Manila Standard - 2022 January 25 - Tuesday

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RODY ADMITS VAX RESISTANCE IN MINDANAO MUSLIM, TAUSUG AREAS No sub-lineage of Omicron yet detected in PH—DOH

By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Joel E. Zurbano

in Mindanao, including the Tausug, are hes- Muslims bound for Zamboanga. itant to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Some of them were crying because Duterte recalled that he saw a me- they were stranded. They were not alPRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday dia report on the stranded passengers lowed to board the ship because they said Muslims and some indigenous people at North Harbor, many of whom were Next page

By Willie Casas

THE country has not yet detected a sub-lineage of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the BA.2 or the Stealth Omicron was discovered a week after the detection of Omicron.

“As of now, we still have not detect-

VOL. XXXV • NO. 344 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ed the BA.2 in our country,” Vergeire said in an interview on CNN. Vergeire also said that the country has the capacity to detect the sub-lineage.

“In our Philippine Genome Center, when we do our whole-genome sequencing, all the possible lineages that are present in every sample that we get can be detected,” she said.

Vergeire said the World Health Organization (WHO) and other experts Next page

NCR ‘ready’ for Alert Level 2

Duque: Metro cases reach peak; OCTA: Omicron wave over by April

By Willie Casas

FDA approves 2 home antigen kits, 31 pending

T

HE COVID-19 alert level in Metro Manila is “ready” to be downgraded to Alert Level 2 should it meet the criteria set by the government, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.

This as the surge in COVID-19 cases has peaked in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) chief said, amid a steady decline in the number of new infections reported over the last few days.

In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte late Monday, Duque also said the Inter-Agency Task Force will discuss Thursday if the National Capital Region “is already ready to deescalate to Alert Level 2, given our metrics now.”

“Oo, handa naman ang Metro Manila. Maganda ang ating vaccination coverage. So, maganda ang tiwala o ang confidence na maaayos natin ‘yung pagsunod sa minimum public health standards,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing when asked if the capital region is ready to go down to a less restrictive alert level in February.

[Yes, Metro Manila is ready (to go down a level). The vaccination coverage (in the region) is good, and we have great confidence that we can ask the public to follow minimum public health standards.]

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By Joyce Pangco Pañares THE Food and Drug Administration has issued special certifications to two self-administered home antigen test kits for COVID-19.

In a report to President Rodrigo Duterte late Monday evening, FDA officer-in-charge Oscar Gutierrez said the applications of Abbott’s Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test and Labnovation Technologies Inc.’s SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Test were approved.

The FDA received 33 applications for home antigen tests, which were forwarded to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine Next page

READY TO ROLL. A worker

positions a big roll of paper onto a printing machine as the printing of AES (automated election system) ballots for the May 9 national and local elections started on Monday at the National Printing Office, according to Commission on Election officials who observed the print run (inset). Comelec photo

Consumers hit with double-whammy of price hikes

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Othel V. Campos

the government announced it was set to implement a P500-million program to subsidize fuel discounts for farmers and FILIPINOS were hit Monday with a fisherfolk as provided by the national double-whammy of increases in the budget for 2022.

The country’s oil firms raised pump prices of oil and bread products, even as

prices for the fourth consecutive week by as much as P1.90 per liter of diesel effective 6 a.m. Tuesday. Gasoline went up by P1.45 per liter while kerosene was P1.70 more expensive.

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P5k cash aid of DOLE covers all workers affected by Alert Level 3

TERMINAL JABS. Security personnel check the vaccination cards of

passengers as they line up outside the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Paranaque City on Monday. Meanwhile, a health worker gives a shot of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to a commuter as the ‘We Vax as One: Mobile Vaccination Drive’ started at PITX and sought to inoculate 500 persons a day at the terminal. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

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3,442,056 24,938

262,997

53,519

47

3,125,540 35,461 (As of 4 PM, January 24)

SC allows laptop use for review during Bar exams

Bobby Romulo, former DFA chief, passes on FORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto “Bobby” Romulo has passed away at the age of 83.

In a statement posted on its website, the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation confirmed that Romulo died on Jan. 23, Sunday. It did not disclose the cause of his death.

The foundation, named after

ALL workers, regardless of their employment status, who lost their jobs or whose work was suspended due to the implementation of Alert Level 3, are qualified to apply for a one-time P5,000 cash aid, the Department of Labor and Employment said Monday.

DOLE Undersecretary Dominique Tutay, interviewed on GMA News Unang Balita, said all types of employees whether regular, contractual, probationary, or casual were covered.

According to Tutay, the DOLE is expecting around 200,000 employees who will apply for the P5,000 cash aid in Metro Manila and other areas.

She said affected workers would receive the amount within two weeks after application was submitted, which began January 24.

By Rey E. Requejo Roberto ‘Bobby’ Romulo

Romulo’s father, said the schedule of mass and novena prayers will be announced soon.

“In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice,” the foundation said.

Next page

THE Supreme Court has relaxed the rules on the use of laptop computers by examinees in the February 4 and 6 online bar examinations for 2020 and 2021 in various testing centers nationwide.

In a Bar Bulletin issued by Bar Examinations Committee chairperson Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the Next page

‘TIKOY’ TREATS. A salesman arranges boxes of “tikoy” (Chinese sweet rice cakes) at a

store on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila on Monday, a week before the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The government, however, has suspended all celebrations of the lunar new year due to the spread of COVID-19. Danny Pata

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US embassy cancels visa interviews T

HE United States Embassy in Manila has canceled nonimmigrant business and tourist visa interview appointments amid the rise in COVID-19 infections in the country and “significant worldwide challenges related to the pandemic.”

In a statement on Monday, the US Embassy said applicants who have scheduled visa interviews through Feb. 18, 2022 may reschedule their canceled visa interview “once routine business and tourism (B1/B2) visa services resume.”

Their call center can be reached at (+632) 7792-8988 and (+632) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.

“There is no need to contact us at this time. Please continue to monitor our website

Rody...

From A1

NCR...

From A1

are unvaccinated. And some of them are people whom you cannot force to get the jab,” the President said in his address to the people aired late Monday evening.

“I think the Muslim community here in the Philippines, many are of the belief that it is not allowed by their – I don’t know – religion. I might be mistaken. It could be that or something else in their culture... I think they are not confident of allowing the vaccine into their body. They simply do not want it.”

“In Mindanao, the Muslim community are resisting the vaccine. It is true even for the Tausug. The governor is talking to them. The [latest] report is that some of the Tausugs are not resisting anymore. I don’t know, maybe the governor is persuading them [to get vaccinated],” he added.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said he has instructed the Philippine Ports Authority to allow 276 stranded passengers to leave, noting that “returning home is essential travel.”

“We learned that there were about 136 Tausug, including children. My instructions were to give them food, give them aid, and do not force them to show vaccination cards and do not require them to undergo RT-PCR and instead simply require a negative antigen test result,” Tugade said.

“After the 136 were allowed to leave, I was informed that 140 more passengers appealed that they be allowed to leave as well. So, as we speak now, all 276 of them are already on their way home,” he added.

Based on the report of vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., the government has fully vaccinated 57.268 million Filipinos as of Jan. 23.

Broken down into regions, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the lowest inoculation rate at only 25.22 percent for the fully-vaccinated or 769,604 individuals.

Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN, which is also in Mindanao, had the second lowest rate for fully vaccinated individuals at only 56.64 percent of its population.

Earlier, Malacanang said the President was urging Filipinos to get COVID-19 booster shots, after some groups spread a spliced video of his previous, contradicting remark.

“It seems like it has peaked already as we’ve been seeing a continuous decline in COVID-19 cases in the NCR as well as a decrease in its contributions to the total caseload,” Duque added in the online briefing.

“Ang porsyento ng mga bagong kaso ay unti-unti na bumababa. Hopefully magpatuloy ito para makapag deescalate tayo to alert level 2 lalo sa NCR. Binabantayang maigi ang Visayas and Mindanao dahil pataas ang mga kaso.

Maganda po ang NCR, mabilis na bumababa nagplaplateau ang ating cases,” he said.

[The percentage of new cases is decreasing steadily. Hopefully this continues so that wwe can deescalate to alert level 2, especially in the NCR. We are watching Visayas and Mindanao closely because cases are rising there.

But NCR is going well, the cases are plateauing fast.]

Among the criteria is the two-week growth rate must be at moderate risk and the average daily attack rate must be at around one to seven cases per 100,000 population. The health care utilization rate must also be 49 percent and below.

“It’s automatic, if we hit those criteria, then we will go down to Alert Level 2,” Duque said.

Data from the DOH showed that 48 percent of the ICU beds in NCR are utilized while 46 percent of the isolation beds are in use.

This dovetailed with the monitoring of the independent OCTA Research Group, which expressed hope Monday that the Omicron COVID-19 variant surge would end by March or April this year.

In the same Laging Handa briefing, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the Omicron wave may last longer across the country as it is only starting in other regions compared to the NCR, where the growth and reproduction rates were decreasing.

“The Omicron wave will last longer because even if the cases are decreasing in NCR and adjacent provinces, the cases are still increasing in other areas

FDA...

From A1 (RITM) for performance validation.

This brings to 44 the number of antigen brands approved by FDA, of which 42 can only be administered by a healthcare worker or a health professional.

Gutierrez said the two home antigen test kits will be monitored by the FDA and can be sent to the RITM again for actual use tests.

“We advise the public to buy only FDA-approved test kits following reports of confiscated unauthorized and illegal kits from syndicates,” Gutierrez said.

Last week, government agents seized smuggled fake COVID-19 antigen test kits and other counterfeit health products worth P150 million at a storage facility in Manila.

Bobby...

From A1 It said that those who would like to pay tribute to the late Cabinet member are encouraged to send their written or video messages to the foundation’s email.

“Also, we’d love to share with others your tributes and messages of sympathy. Please email us at romulocenter@ gmail.com if you’d like us to post your written or video messages,” the foundation added.

Romulo, who was born on Dec. 9, 1938,

No sub-lineage...

From A1 are still studying the BA.2.

“Based on their initial findings and based on observing patients… there is not much difference with Omicron as to the severity of illness,” she said.

She said they would wait to see if WHO classifies it as a variant of interest or concern.

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has designated the BA.2 as a variant under investigation.

Consumers...

From A1 Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil company, said the price increases reflect the movements in the international oil market. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Chevron Philippines, Cleanfuel, Seaoil Philippines and PetroGazz also announced the latest price hike. began his professional career with IBM Corporation in New York City in 1965, where he held various marketing and management positions in New York, in Thailand as managing director, and in the Philippines as President and GM. He was appointed Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Commission of the European Communities in June 1989.

In 1992, he was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs. As a diplomat, he has been decorated by the governments of Belgium, Thailand, Spain, Chile, France, and the Philippines. Rey E. Requejo

Duterte signs microgrid dev’t bill as RA 11646

at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/ for updates regarding the resumption of B1/B2 visa services at the US Embassy in the Philippines,” the advisory read.

It noted that there would not be a fee to change an appointment and the validity of the visa fee payment or MRV fee is extended until Sept. 30, 2023. “[This is] to allow applicants who are unable to schedule a visa appointment because of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to

schedule and/or attend a visa interview appointment with the already paid fee,” the US Embassy said.

On Monday, the Department of Health reported 24,938 new cases of Covid-19 in the country, with active cases now at 262,997.

On the other hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 145 new COVID-19 cases among Filipinos in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and the Middle East and Africa over the previous week.

while others have not yet experienced it,” David said.

He said seven cities outside Metro Manila that logged record-high new COVID-19 cases, and that this surge outside Metro Manila has not yet peaked.

Citing DOH data, David said Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Davao City, General Santos, Iloilo City, and Mandaue recorded the highest number of new cases on Jan. 23.

Davao City recorded the highest with 1,831 new cases, followed by Baguio City with 902, and Cebu City with 846.

Baguio City recorded the highest average daily attack rate at 161.90 per 100,000 population, followed by Iloilo City at 95.84, and Cebu at 63.64.

David said the NCR recorded 5,433 new cases and had an ADAR of 61.43.

According to the DOH, 13 areas in the country are at critical risk classification for COVID-19 while only four are at high-risk classification for COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency is observing several areas that have recorded increasing health care utilization such as the Cordillera Administrative Region and Region VIII. “That’s why even if only a few patients get admitted, their hospitals get full,” Vergeire told CNN Philippines.

The DOH has previously observed an increase in the number of cases in all regions in the Philippines.

The Philippines logged 24,938 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,442,056.

The positivity rate was at 40.6 percent, based on test results of samples from 59,896 people on Jan. 22, the latest DOH bulletin said.

There were 47 new fatalities reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll 53,519.

There were 262,997 active cases, of which 7,944 were asymptomatic; 250,235 were mild; 3,010 were moderate; 1,499 were severe; and 309 were critical.

Nationwide, 51 percent of ICU beds, 52 percent of isolation beds, 52 percent of ward beds, and 25 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 47 percent of ICU beds, 46 percent of isolation beds, 50

percent of ward beds, and 27 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In a televised public briefing, Duque described as “good” the NCR’s vaccination coverage, saying the government is confident that people will strictly observe the minimum public health standards.

As of January 23, there were a total of 21,473,675 vaccine doses administered in the NCR, the highest among all regions, data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard show.

Since the start of the vaccination in March last year, the Philippines has administered 123,365,808 vaccine doses as of Jan. 23.

Duque noted that the ongoing vaccination and implementation of health protocols are the main responses to ending the pandemic.

The DOH said the COVID-19 surge in the Philippines was not necessarily connected to the country’s vaccination rate as countries with high vaccine coverage also experienced similar surges.

“First of all, countries with high vaccine coverage also experienced a rise in cases,” Duque said.

Duque said the country’s vaccination supply only stabilized in October 2021, unlike other countries that already had vaccines in 2020.

“They are the manufacturers of vaccines, and they have high vaccine coverage. Despite that you can see that they still have a large number of cases,” Duque said.

The DOH previously said that vaccinated individuals may still get infected with COVID-19. Vaccines, however, protect from severe infection as well as death.

Duque also said that Typhoon Odette, which devastated several provinces in December 2021, slowed down the country’s vaccination program.

Duque also described as “unfair” a World Bank assessment that said the Philippines’ vaccinations continued to lag behind its regional peers.

“That’s not right, it’s unfair that they should say it’s because our vaccination coverage is slow and that’s why cases increased. That’s not how it works,” he said.

At present, Duque said around 59.7 million Filipinos received at least one

The UKHSA said that while there was uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, the early analysis suggested an increased growth rate compared to the original Omicron lineage.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said more studies are needed on the subvariant of Omicron.

“So far, limited data shows it’s not that different from the Omicron variant.

If there’s any, it might be faster in transmission,” he said.

In terms of the country’s COVID response, he said vaccines continue to

be effective versus severe and critical cases and therefore in preventing hospitalization and deaths.

The country’s vaccine expert panel is also studying the effectivity of a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Duque said.

The Philippines last week reported its first two deaths from Omicron among 492 additional cases of the lineage.

Nearly 70 percent of the samples in the latest whole genome sequencing was omicron, while 16 percent was composed of Delta cases and 1 percent was an Alpha case, Duque said.

The DOLE allotted P1 billion for the financial assistance under the COVID Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP) 2022.

Qualified for the cash aid are workers who lost their jobs due to the permanent closure of their companies, as well as employees whose work was suspended due to the temporary closure of their employers’ businesses under Alert Level 3.

For affected workers/individuals, the following must be submitted: -- Clear photo of himself/herself holding a valid government-issued ID -- Duly notarized proof of unemployment (i.e. Certificate of Employment, Notice of Termination, Notarized Affidavit of Termination of Employment, or Notice of Temporary Lay-off) covering the period of Alert Level 3 in their areas.

Applications with complete documentary requirements shall be submitted online through https://reports.dole.gov.ph.

Metro Manila and several other provinces have been placed under Alert Level 3 until January 31 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Under Alert Level 3, several establishments are allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity but exclusively for fully vaccinated people, and 50% outdoor venue capacity as long as employees are fully vaccinated.

Bakers and bread companies, meanwhile, announced a P3 hike on the price of budget bread, specifically Pinoy Tasty and P1.50 for Pinoy Pandesal pack, effective Feb. 1, 2022 The Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking) said the group has been holding off the price increase despite the rising costs of raw materials, particularly imported flour.

By February 2022, the price of Pinoy

Tasty will be at P38 from P35 and Pinoy Pandesal will be priced at P23 per pack from P21.50, they added.

In a GMA News TV report, community bakeries are resorting to using agricultural products like sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and malunggay (moringa) to substitute for flour and keep their bread prices low.

“My brother-in-law is thinking of what to replace the expensive ingredi-

ents with so that customers keep buying his breads,” bakery owner Mariella Villanueva said in the television interview, adding that supplies of these farm products should be assured by the government, so bread prices remain affordable.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to implement the “Fuel Discount for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program,” as provided under the Special Provision No. 20 of the General

for any last-minute studying.”

“Examinees may also review their own files during lunch breaks. For local testing centers with assigned lunch areas, examinees may bring their laptops there; for those that allow eating inside the testing rooms, examinees may use their laptops inside to review,” the bulletin stated.

“In any event, examinees must close all reviewers and other law-related files 30 minutes before the first bell (7:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m.) rings,” it added.

However, the SC warned examinees should not abuse this policy.

“Any form of cheating will not be

tolerated. Anyone who will be caught violating these rules will be automatically disqualified from the 2020/21 Bar Examinations and future bar examinations. No second chances will be given for any breach of the Honor Code,” it said.

“Each examinee is responsible for the safekeeping of their (sic) laptops.

The Supreme Court shall not be liable should they spill anything on their laptops or do any damage that might render the laptops unusable for the succeeding exams. Examinees shall also not be allowed to avail of the back-up computers should such a situation arise,” it added.

SC...

From A1 Court now allows those taking the examinations to have their reviewers in their laptops during the examination days.

However, the SC said that while examinees would be allowed to keep their reviewers in their laptops, the reviewers “should always be saved in their local folders and not downloadable from their clouds; once done with the security and health check, examinees may open their laptops to access their files

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that will spur microgrid development in unserved and underserved areas nationwide to achieve the government’s goal of 100 percent electrification in the Philippines.

Republic Act 11646 or the Microgrid Systems Act was signed into law last January 21, documents released

by Malacañang on Monday showed.

The law aims to accelerate total electrification and ensure the provision of quality, reliable, and secure electricity service at reasonable rates in unserved and underserved areas through the installation of microgrid systems by accredited Microgrid Service Providers (MGSPs).

The MGSPs will be allowed to operate in any area where there is no electricity access or where the power connection does not provide 24/7 electricity supply.

The law mandates the Department of Energy (DOE) to declare unserved and underserved areas for electrification and service by prospective MGSPs. It also creates a streamlined process for MGSPs with clear timelines and stiff sanctions for bureaucratic red tape and delay.

It also removes the requirement of obtaining waivers from distribution utilities for MGSPs to provide distribution services and connections to end-users and supply electricity to the area concerned.

Under the law, distribution utilities may engage in the business of MGSPs in unserved and underserved areas, provided that a separate account is maintained for such business undertaking.

P5k...

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A3

Chinese top immigration law violators, says bureau

DOH agrees to cooperate in complaint over pneumonia jabs

By Vito Barcelo

By Willie Casas

CHINESE nationals topped the list of foreigners arrested by the Bureau of Immigration in 2021 for violating Philippine immigration laws.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, a total of 158 aliens were arrested in numerous operations conducted by members of the BI’s intelligence division in different areas nationwide.

Statistics show that majority of those arrested were Chinese with 86 arrests, followed by Koreans with 37 arrests, and Nigerians with 10 arrests.

Also arrested were 6 Indians, 4 Americans, 4 British nationals, 3 Japanese, 2 Indonesians, a Dutch, a German, a Tunisian, a Cambodian, a Lebanese, and a Singaporean.

Morente said that the number is lower than the 510 arrested in 2020 primarily because of the imposition of travel restrictions for arriving foreigners.

“Since only those with valid and existing long-term visas are allowed entry in the country, we saw a major decrease in the number of foreign nationals in the Philippines,” said Morente. “Apart from that, many of those who were already in the country were repatriated back to their homelands,” he added.

BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. also reported that the first Intelligence summit was also held virtually in December 2021, which was attended by all BI intelligence units nationwide.

“The summit was an opportunity to share investigation techniques, as well as best practices to improve the manner of our operations,” said Manahan.

Apart from the 158 arrested by the intelligence division, the BI also earlier reported 83 foreign fugitives arrested by the BI’s fugitive search unit, bringing the total arrested aliens to 241.

THE Department of Health (DOH) will cooperate in the investigation following a complaint before the Philippine Competition Commission that the government was overcharged billions in its procurement of pneumococcal vaccines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Monday assured on Monday.

Former ABAKADA party-list representative Jonathan Dela Cruz earlier said the government has been overcharged billions of pesos by a single pharmaceutical company in the procurement of these vaccines. Dela Cruz, who is also a national consultant for the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC), added that because of this, UFCC has filed a complaint before the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to investigate the alleged anti-competition practice.

The DOH is still awaiting the copy of the complaint filed by consumer group United Filipino Consumers and Commuters, according to Duque.

Duque said he has “ordered the legal service group of the DOH to look into this with a sense of urgency. This was filed with the PCC. We are awaiting a copy of the complaint to respond to this point by point.”

The DOH’s bids and awards committee follows the procurement processes under the Government Procurement Reform Act, Duque said.

“We will cooperate. We will give all information needed by PCC,” he said.

PCVs are meant to prevent child pneumonia, one of the top killer diseases among children 5 years old and below.

Dela Cruz, in a Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum, said that the government might be unknowingly losing billions in procuring unnecessarily expensive pneumonia vaccines.

As an example, he pointed out that US biopharmaceutical company Pfizer did not have credible competition for the PCVs, but started to offer P816 per single dose to capture the market.

PH, US joint military drills set in March THIS year’s “Salaknib” exercise between Filipino and American military units has been slated from March 5 to March 24.

The participants are troops from the Philippine Army’s (PA) 1st Brigade Combat Team, Training and Doctrine Command, Army Support Command, 51st Engineer Brigade, Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Army Artillery Regiment, Aviation Regiment, Armor Division, Light Reaction Regiment, Special Forces Regiment, and First Scout Ranger Regiment and their counterparts from United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).

PA commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said “Salaknib,” which means “shield” in Ilocano, “is a testament to our enduring ties with the US Army. It is anchored on the PhilippineUS Mutual Defense Treaty and has been ongoing since 2015.”

“Salaknib” is an annual exercise sponsored by USARPAC and hosted by the PA. It aims to enhance the defense readiness of both Filipino and American troops by developing tactical interoperability and at the same time, showcase the US government’s resolve to fulfill its alliance obligations in the region.

Last January 21, the PA and USARPAC teams completed the three-day inspection of the proposed training sites in Central Luzon to ensure availability, suitability, and training-worthiness.

Brawner commended the “Salaknib” planning team for carrying out a thorough planning process aimed at ensuring the success of the bilateral exercise even amidst the pandemic.

TRAFFIC DESPITE COVID-19. Motorists negotiate heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Monday.

Despite COVID-19, more people are out as the economy needs to move amid the pandemic. Joey Razon

Doctors appeal to Rody: Veto entirely Vape Bill T

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Philippine Medical Association (PMA), composed or 88,000 doctors nationwide, renewed their appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto entirely the proposed Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act or the Vape Bill recently passed by the Senate and earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) made the same appeal to Duterte to oppose the measure which also seeks to regulate vaporized nicotine and nonnicotine products or vapes.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Department of Health (DOH) supports the call of medical societies to veto the Vape Bill.

In an on online press conference Monday, doctors coming from different medical groups rejected the assertions of law-

makers that vaping will protect the youth from cigarette smoking, stressing that vapes contain nicotine and some harmful substances used in tobacco products.

Doctors also reiterated their strong objection to the transfer of regulatory authority from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DOH Usec. Eric Domingo has maintained that the FDA, which he used to head, and not the DTI should be the proper

government agency to regulate regulate the chemicals contained in vape products.

He pointed out the DTI is capable of regulating consumer products, but not health products which enter the body of a person.

“Vape products have a pharmacological and physiological effect on one’s body. Thus, the regulatory body needs to be able to test the products for harmful substances, which only the FDA is capable of doing,”he said Dr. Cory Avancena, a pediatric pulmonologist, refuted claims the vape and ecigarette smoking will protect the youth, refuting the claims because vape will also cause lung injury like cigarette smoking.

And since the Vape Bill proposes to lower the age from 21 to 18 of those who can buy vapes, Avancena warned it would be more harmful to the youth. She related that the youth’s brain for learning, memory, and moods in that age category is not yet fully matured. With Willie Casas

IN BRIEF

LINING UP FOR BOOSTER SHOTS. An

Villar eyes Batangas town as PH ‘egg capital’

individual receives his booster shot against COVID-19 at a drivethru vaccination site at the parking area of SM North in Quezon City on Monday. On the same day, Health Sec. Francisco Duque said that the rise of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila appeared to have peaked. Manny Palmero

‘BERDE’ project wins award in Asia-Pacific forum THE “BALAI BERDE” program of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation’s (NHMFC) bagged the Sustainable Consumption and Production Award (SCP Award) under the Public Policies Category in the recently held Asia-Pacific Housing Forum 2021.

“BERDE” stands for Building Eligible, Resilient Dwelling for Everyone. It is the newest program of NHMFC under its Housing Loan Receivables Purchase Program (HLRPP), which was launched in March 2021.

In addition, the BALAI BERDE Program was also selected as one of the Top 4 finalists out of fifty (50) contenders un-

der the same category for the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum Innovation Awards 2021.

The other categories for the Innovation Awards are ShelterTech and Inspirational Practices.

The evaluation of the SCP Award is based on the scores achieved by each initiative under the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) criteria. The highest scorer in this criterion across the three categories would receive this award.

The grand premiere held on December 1, 2021, included the virtual pitch competition, where the Top 4 programs from each category were presented to a jury panel and live

audience. From these finalists, one program would also win the SCP Award sponsored by the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility.

Cecile Malota, head of NHMFC’s BERDE Unit, led the pitch presentation for the BALAI BERDE Program together with Ms. Princess Riza Ong, OIC-Corporate Executive Officer of NHMFC’s Fund and Asset Management Group. In her message during the awarding ceremony, Malota urged the support of the primary market—the developers, originators, borrowers and stakeholders to solve the housing backlog while preserving the environment.

‘Rights bill for reds is propaganda’ THE National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday debunked the true intentions of the passage by the House of Representatives of the Human Rights Defenders Bill.

“The approval of Congress of the House Bill 10576 or the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act is part of the desperate move of the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)” through the Makabayan bloc “to save the dying insurgency,” Undersecretary Severo Catura, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for International Affairs, Peace Process and Human Rights Concerns said.

At the weekly “virtual” press briefing of the task force, Catura said the bill is “nothing but a propaganda” of Commu-

nist Terrorists Groups (CTGs) to allow “pretenders” of human rights defenders in Congress “to advance their deceits.”

Catura was referring to lawmakers in the House of Representatives, who are members of the so-called Makabayan Bloc, whom he accused of painting lies about the country with regards to human rights.

He explained that the bill also allows “certain organizations” “to solicit abroad” which the Makabayan Bloc have been doing in the past by masquerading as human rights defenders themselves.

There is no need for the proposed bill as the rights mentioned therein were already “embedded” in the Constitution and other laws pertaining to human rights, he pointed out. Willie Casas

NEW SET OF OFFICERS. The Camp Vicente Lim Press Corps has a new set of officers after the group held an election at the Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Calamba City on January 22. The officers are (president) Roy Tomandao, Manila Standard; (vice president) Rommel Madrigal, DZRJ; (secretary) Madeline Marasigan, Tribune Post; (treasurer) Lyn Domingo, News Issue; (auditor) Jackie Palima DWBC 87.9; (PRO) Joel Cabactulan, Ronda News; and (chairman of the board) Daniel Castro, DZJV 1458 AM BAND, Radyo Calabarzon.

SENATOR Cynthia Villar urged her colleagues in the Senate to support her proposed measure to make San Jose. Batangas the “Egg Capital of the Philippines.”

Villar said San Jose is the leading egg producer in the country. The chairperson on Food, Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, on Monday, presented to the Senate plenary for approval Committee Report No. 271 on Senate Bill No. 2044, taking into consideration H.B No. 7660), entitled, “An Act Declaring the Municipality of San Jose in the Province of Batangas, as the Egg Basket Capital of the Philippines.”

She noted that San Jose, a first-class municipality has the highest egg production of at least 70,000 MT of eggs a year.

In 2019, San Jose contributed 12 percent to the country’s egg basket and 50 percent to the total Batangas Province output or 40 percent of the whole of CALABARZON egg produce.

In seeking backing for the bill, Villar said she also wants to celebrate the hard work and perseverance of the egg farmers in San Jose, who constantly evolve and improve their technology.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Solon hails approval of bill on plastic wastes in PH DEPUTY Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar welcomed the approval of a consolidated measure designed to hold companies responsible for recycling to address the growing problem of plastic pollution in the country.

Villar cited the need for Congress to pass the packaging responsibility or product stewardship bill, also known as the “extended producer responsibility (EPR)” as consumers generate more single-use packaging and plastics from online purchases amid the pandemic.

Currently, plastic waste makes up a significant share of the overall generated waste in the Philippines. Based on reports, the Philippines is the third biggest polluter next to China and Indonesia and produces some 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year.

“Worse, plastic waste is likely to aggravate pollution and worsen flooding in communities,” Villar added.

Villar filed last year House Bill 10498 that proposes to institutionalize the practice of EPR in waste management and to improve the responsibility of producers in the design, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal of their products and packaging. Maricel V. Cruz

Robredo wants declaration of no-mining areas VICE President Leni Robredo said she would declare no-mining areas through an executive order should she win in the May 9 presidential polls.

“I am not for an absolute ban on mining. I am for more responsible mining,” Robredo said during an online dialog with female lawyers who are supporting her presidential bid.

Robredo said she would certify as urgent the proposed National Land Use Act, which would identify nomining zones even as she is ready to issue an EO. She underscored the importance of holding genuine consultations with communities where mining projects operate.

“Usually, consultations will be called and something will be offered that shortchanges the community.

The community will accept that the consultation is limited to that. For me, no mining operations will resume if we don’t fix this,” she said.

“We will put up mechanisms so that the voices of the indigenous peoples who will be affected would be heard,” Robredo added.

Robredo said he also wants to revoke President Rodrigo Duterte’s EO No 130 that lifted the moratorium on mineral agreements, In December, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources lifted the four-year ban on open-pit mining for copper, gold, silver and complex ores.

Pacquiao’s brod backs Inday Sara for vice president

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo VICE presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio secured the support of Sarangani Rep. Ruel Pacquia Monday afternoon in Davao City.

Ruel is the youngest brother of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who is running in tandem with former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

The Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) confirmed this as the party said in a statement the meeting was also attended by Sarangani Gov. Steve Solon and mayors from various towns of the province.

“Rep. Pacquiao, Gov. Solon, and the mayors of Sarangani expressed support to the vice presidential candidacy of Inday Sara,” the Lakas CMD said.

“The expression of support is deeply appreciated, and it affirmed the essence of the unity that the UniTeam has been trying to espouse among political parties — as a way to achieve the common goals that the UniTeam has for our country and the Filipinos,” it added.

The UniTeam agreed that DuterteCarpio should meet the leaders of the province of Sarangani.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains at the top of the presidential race if the elections were held today, a preelection survey using mobile phone technology conducted by research firm Tangere from January 18 to 19 with 2,400 respondents.

In a statement, the Marcos camp said the former senator obtained 57.67 percent preference votes in the nationwide poll.

The Tangere survey also showed Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (16.75 percent) in second place followed by Vice President Leni Robredo in third with 15.08 percent.

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News

Petitioners seek reversal of poll body’s ruling on Marcos DQ case

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Rey E. Requejo

GALLEON-INSPIRED. The City of Dumaguete topped the recently-concluded competition for the Best Site Development of Quincentennial Historical Markers in observance of the 500th anniversary of the Philippine Part of the First Circumnavigation of the World. Dubbed the Panilongon Landmark, the marker’s landscape is inspired by the galleon Victoria, the flagship of Ferdinand Magellan, and stands at the two-hectare reclaimed Pantawan People’s Park along Rizal Boulevard.

UNLESS RODY APPOINTS NEW CHAIRPERSON

Inting to serve as acting Comelec head by Feb. 3 A

N OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said Commissioner Socorro Inting will take over as acting chair of the poll body come February 3, unless President Rodrigo Duterte appoints a new chief.

“Commissioner Socorro Inting, most senior Comm on Feb 3, will be Acting Chair @COMELEC while PRRD has not appointed a Chair,” Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a Twitter post.

Comelec chairperson Sheriff Abas, along with Commissioners Guanzon and Antonio Kho, are all retiring on Feb. 2.

This will leave the poll body with only four Commissioners – Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino and Rey Bulay – all of whom are Duterte appointees.

Abas and Guanzon were appointed as commissioners by the late former President Benigno Aquino III in 2015.

In 2017, Duterte named Abas as head of the poll body, replacing Andres Bautista who resigned from the post.

Kho, a former Department of Justice undersecretary, was appointed by Duterte to the poll body in 2018.

Meanwhile, Comelec on Monday said the start of the printing of the official ballots for this year’s elections was “way earlier” than the schedule followed for the similar procedure during the 2019 polls.

“We are happy that we started in the second half of January much earlier than in 2019 when the printing started

sometime in February. We are hoping with this early start or timely start, we could have a buffer for probable contingencies,” Comelec printing committee vice chair Helen Aguila-Flores said.

She said Comelec is looking to finish the printing of the more than 67 million ballots by the third week of April.

“Our target is to finish the printing of all official ballots on April 21,” Flores said.

The poll body started the printing process last Thursday for 60,000 local absentee voting (LAV) ballots.

It is also done with the printing of around 79,000 ballots for overseas voters and some 86,000 ballots for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Comelec will be printing a total of 67,442,714 ballots for the May 9 polls, of which 1,697,202 are for overseas voting.

WARM WELCOME. Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, January 24, was greeted

by Kakampinks as she passed by the Explore Dipolog marker in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte.

Lacson: Next president must be physically, morally fit for the job

By Macon Ramos-Araneta COMPETENCE, experience, and track record – as well as the physical fitness and integrity for the rigors of the job – are the main traits that qualify Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to be the nation’s next leader.

In a statement, Lacson said he earned

MODULES. A worker from the

Department of Education unloads newly-printed modules for Grade Three pupils of the Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School in De Vera Street, Tondo, Manila on Monday, January 24, 2022. Danny Pata

a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense cop who strictly enforced a “no-take” policy – rejecting bribes and hush money from criminal gangs – in his 30 years as a law enforcer.

In his 18 years as senator, he exposed corruption in all its forms, and pushed for the abolition of the corruption-prone pork barrel system.

Lacson said he is also physically fit

for the rigors of the presidency, noting that while he would be physically 74 years old should he assume office on June 30, his recent physical tests show his body age at a much younger 51.

“So, age doesn’t matter if it doesn’t show and if you don’t feel it,” he said, adding he has no vices such as drinking or smoking.

Lacson said part of this leadership

by example would be the signing of a waiver of his bank secrecy rights and encouraging Cabinet members to do the same—all in his first day in office.

On the other hand, he said he would end corruption by applying only one standard in punishing wrongdoing—even if it involves close friends and allies.

“Without moral authority, how can you lead properly,” he said.

Pacman ready to face any debate, forum PROMDI presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao is ready and willing to attend all debates and media fora provided that these are mainstream and are non-partisan.

He said attending public debates and all forms of public fora is both an obligation to the people and an opportunity for candidates to amplify their visions and their platforms of government.

“This is also a venue for candidates to show to the people what they have done for the country that can provide them the edge in winning the hearts and minds of the electorate,” Pacquiao said.

Among the frontrunners in the May 9 polls, Pacquiao said he is the one who had no political advertisements in TV and radio.

“So, I welcome these opportunities to

share with our people my dreams for them, especially the poor,” he said.

Pacquiao also thanked broadcast journalist Jessica Soho for staying true to her profession by throwing hard questions to provide the public a preview of the kind of leadership that they should expect from the presidential candidates.

He said that not once did he feel that Soho was biased for him or against him all throughout the interview.

Pacquiao also thanked the other presidential candidates who generously shared to the people their aspirations and their thoughts about the presidency.

He particularly expressed gratitude to Vice President Leni Robredo for her kind words when she said she would vote for him if she were not running for the presidency.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

PETITIONERS have formally asked the Commission on Elections to reverse the ruling of its 2nd Division that presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not commit deliberate material misrepresentation in his certificate of candidacy for the May 9 polls.

Lawyer Theodore Te, representing the petitioners, filed a motion for partial reconsideration before the Comelec en banc asking it to set aside the 2nd Division’s decision denying their petition to cancel the COC of Marcos.

The petitioners also asked the poll body to exclude Marcos’ name from the official ballot.

“An objective reading of the petition will clearly demonstrate that any reference to respondent Marcos Jr.’s disqualification does not constitute a combination of grounds warranting summary dismissal,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners asked to cancel the COC of Marcos for false material representation when he stated in his COC that he is eligible to run for President despite his earlier conviction for not filing income tax returns from 1982 to 1985.

They said that the 2nd Division erred in interpreting the Court of Appeals conviction of Marcos where the penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office was not explicitly stated.

“The penalty was not explicitly written because the CA did not have to do so,” the petitioners said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday issued yet another temporary restraining order (TRO) against Comelec regarding the dismissal of the registration of a party-list organization.

The TRO signed by Deputy Clerk of Court Anna-Li Gombio, by authority of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, gave the Comelec a non-extendible period of 10 days to file a comment on the suit filed by Juan-Pinagkaisang Ordinaryong Mamamayan Para Yumabong (Juan Pinoy).

The group sought a TRO on January 3, questioning Comelec for dismissing its petition for registration on Oct. 12, 2021.

It is unclear yet how party-lists that will win their bids for inclusion in the May 9 polls will be accommodated in the ballots.

Isko wants finance expert to manage PhilHealth better IF ELECTED president, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he will appoint a financial expert to lead the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to manage the country’s multibillion state health insurance and avoid a repeat of money woes confronting the agency.

“PhilHealth is a financial institution. I will put a financial person.

That’s not [a job] for doctors,” he said.

“We will appoint the right person in that particular agency so that PhilHealth’s money can grow. We have to put a financial guy or a group of people who understands finances and how to grow the money of PhilHealth,” the 47-year-old presidential aspirant added.

Domagoso said it is time to do away with the traditional practice of tapping unqualified people for key government positions as a political favor to those who supported a winning presidential candidate.

“We will give the position to the right person and not because we are indebted for their support,” he said.

According to the Universal Health Care Law, a person recommended to become PhilHealth president and CEO must have “at least seven years of experience in the field of public health, management, finance, and health economics, or a combination of any of these expertise.”

The state health insurer, which has been hounded by controversies and allegations of mismanagement over the years, has projected that its actuarial life is likely to be only until 2027.

In a congressional hearing in September last year, a PhilHealth executive said the eventual collapse, unless addressed soonest, is due to the agency’s net losses as a result of the expected rise in the number of COVID-19 related claims.

PhilHealth has also put on hold since January 2021 the collection of new adjustments in member premium contribution following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to ease the people’s burden due to the pandemic.

With the suspension of the increase, current collection remains at 3 percent. Rey E. Requejo

Opinion Lucio Tan determined to bring PAL to recovery ing region - under the severe ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) lockdown. Subsequent lockdowns followed in quick succession, in the process earning the Philippines the reputation of being the country with the longest lockdown.

Like the worlds of all the world’s airlines, PAL’s world crumbled. With borders closed and airline schedules drastically slashed, 2020 became a disaster year. The losses continued into 2021.

During 2021’s first three quarters PAL incurred a comprehensive loss of P27.19 billion, a 29 percent drop in consolidated revenues and an approximately P14 billion fall in passenger revenues.

“FISH or cut bait” is an admonition familiar to people who engage in the sport of fishing. The admonition simply means that if, after waiting a long time and having thrown a lot of bait into the water, he still has not had a bite, a fisherman either should stop throwing more bait into the water - pack up, in other words - or should keep on waiting for the fish to bite.

I am reminded of “Fish or cut bait” as I contemplate the situation of Lucio Tan, one of this country’s taipans, in relation to the national flag-carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL).

At the time, prior to March 2020, that Mr. Tan reached an agreement with the Philippine government for the sale of the airline, the national flag-carrier - Asia’s oldest airline, having been founded by Col. Andres Soriano in 1946 - was saddled with debt resulting from many decades of malperformance by both private-sector and government managers, bad policymaking, abuse by the government and corruption. Shrewd businessman that he was known to be, Lucio Tan knew what he was getting into when he signed the sale agreement.

He signed the agreement nonetheless.

What made Lucio Tan decide to acquire PAL with all of its problems, what motivations went into the making of that decision, the public does not know.

Perhaps Mr. Tan had always dreamed of owning an airline, or perhaps the prestige of owning the national flag-carrier was the great motivator. Whatever the underlying reason, Lucio Tan decided to take on the financial albatross that was PAL. The fourth-richest man in this country lost no time taking steps to reduce PAL’s financial instability and gradually restore it to operational normalcy.

Top-management changes were ordered, arrangements were made for the purchase or lease of new aircraft and the expansion of PAL’s route matrix was put into effect. Then a disaster that no one had foreseen happened. On March 16, 2020 the Philippine government opened its campaign against the COVID-19 virus by placing this country’s most productive area - NCR (National Capital Region) and the immediately surround-

He is continuing to fish.

Faced with this near-catastrophic decline in PAL’s fortunes, Lucio Tan could have decided that the time had come to cut bait. He did not: he decided to continue fishing.

The first manifestation of the let’s-continue-fishing decision was the bankruptcy petition filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York by PHI (PAL Holdings Inc.), PAL’s operation. Attached to the bankruptcy petition was a reorganization plan approved by all - 100 percent - of PAL’s creditors, which included primary aircraft manufacturers and lessors, equipment providers and maintainers, overhaul service providers and certain funded lenders.

The reorganization, approved by the Bankruptcy Court called, among other things, for a $505-million investment in long-term equity and debt financing from PAL’s majority shareholder. That person in effect is, Lucio Tan, who controls PHI. To give effect to this provision of the approved reorganization plan, PHI filed with this country’s SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) at the end of December an application for an increase in PHI’s capital to P30 billion (from P13 billion).

By these legal and other measures, Lucio Tan has clearly indicated that, far from wanting to let go of PAL, he will fully back the nation’s flag-carrier all the way toward restored stability. The “Capitan” - Mr. Tan’s name in PAL circles - can be expected to keep his word until PAL comfortably files the friendly skies again.

Courage and presidents

IT’S unfortunate that former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declined GMA journalist Jessica Soho’s invitation to participate in her interviews of presidentiables, because it opened him to much criticism from the public, who perceived him as unwilling to address the difficult questions that need to be answered.

It also made him out to be someone prone to evasion when things get tough.

Marcos Jr. and his team’s claim of illness for not showing up sounded like a weak excuse, especially when they volte-faced and said Soho was biased toward them. It made them look even worse when after the public reacted negatively to that, they seemed to try to salvage the situation by agreeing to participate in TV presenter Boy Abunda’s set of presidentiable interviews.

Soho’s team did their background research very well and tried to be as objective as possible in their presentation. Soho has years of experience in journalism and knows the pitfalls of appearing biased – it does no one any good, neither the public nor her. The interviews were conducted well, and those present did their best – whatever they may have said, at the very least they were brave enough to show up.

Marcos’s refusal to be interviewed by Soho sends up red flags. If he becomes

president, will he also pick and choose what to say to the public? How does this impact the transparency of his government? Will he conduct evasive maneuvers to get out of uncomfortable situations? Will he twist the narratives of his administration in the same manner they are attempting to revise history in relation to his father’s regime?

It was negative PR for the former senator.

In terms of public relations, this was a negative event for Marcos Jr., but his supporters are trying to present the situation positively. There’s a meme where he is likened to a cheetah. Cheetahs are said to move only 90% of the time, but when they do move, they do so strategically. That’s a back-bending spin if ever I saw one.

In contrast, Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters made memes of rice porridge (that she distributed in feeding programs) with egg – “Buti pa lugaw, may itlog.” Shot fired!

Courage is one of the many traits that a president needs to have in order to be seen as a strong leader. When Corazon Aquino was accused of hiding during a coup attempt in August 1987, she pushed back strongly and sued columnist Luis Beltran, who wrote, “The president hid under her bed while the firing was going on -- perhaps the first commander-in-chief of the armed forces to have done so.”

Aquino later told reporters, “I have always been a woman of courage. I don’t want the soldiers of the republic to ever

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EDITORIAL

We need a leader

T

HE catch phrase on the billboard of one presidential aspirant says it all. “We need a leader.”

As the May national and local elections draw near, however, the key question becomes, what kind of a leader do we need?

There is a common notion that Filipinos, being a factious people, need a strong, unifying leader who can stand up to the push and pull of various factions and disparate interests and deal with Southeast Asia’s longest-running insurgency.

Of course, this is the mentality that gave us the current President, and the kind of thinking that gave us 14 years of one-man rule that began in 1972. Certainly, we ought to have learned something from our experiences—but perhaps a short checklist will help jog our collective memory and help us elect the kind of leader we really need. By now, all the presidential aspirants will have developed some kind of a track record, so it will not be too difficult to assess them according to these qualities.

1) The leader must keep promises.

The next president must not promise one thing, and say he or she was only joking when it comes time to deliver on the promise. The next president cannot promise to fix our problems in six months—then come back after that time and say more time is needed. A true leader should not feign the lack of interest in a leadership position, then “agree” to run to appease his or her followers.

It will not be too difficult to assess the candidates at this point.

2) The leader must have true courage. Our next leader must be able to face the consequences of a hard choice and not run away, like a fugitive, from difficult situations. The next president must also be able to

stand up to powerful neighbors who preach peace and friendship while stealing our territory and trampling on our sovereignty.

3) The leader must be intelligent.

The time for believing that we can elect a popular but unqualified president and not suffer the consequences is over. This approach inevitably leaves us with a coterie of “advisers” and technocrats who may be more qualified than the elected leader, but who ultimately hold no official accountability. Our next leader must be able to communicate with the people intelligently and coherently, and not simply appeal to the lowest denominator to give off a populist air with the language of the gutter.

4) The leader must be honest. This means being free from any taint of corruption, but it also means being honest about the past. Our next president must be able to come to grips and reconcile actions taken in the past with present and future needs. Our next leader should not rewrite history or gloss over mistakes of the past because in a true democracy, facts matter. It is, after all, by looking back that we can confidently move forward.

An appeal from Zambales to Secretary Cimatu LAST Saturday, I wrote about an environmental stand-off happening right now in Zambales. Because of the urgency of the matter, I quote excerpts from a letter sent yesterday by Ms. Heidi Mendoza, Executive Director of the Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement, to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.

She writes: “I am writing on behalf of the concerned citizens of San Narciso and San Felipe, Zambales in relation to a private jetty port and causeway project being implemented by AGN Trading. Among the activities being opposed by the local community, AGN Trading is compacting dredged materials from the Alusiis River and turning the said river into an access road which will lead to a private jetty port. The jetty port was intended to transport by sea and export lahar and blacksand to Singapore and China.

To dramatize the protest by using their bodies as human shields to prevent big backhoes from further destruction of our most precious Alusiis River, 30 fisherfolks have camped out beside the river Alusiis since 11 January 2022. Thankfully, a lot of media outfits have heard their cry for help and featured their story and struggles. Other non-government organizations, the Dominican nuns and priests for Justice and Peace and concerned citizens have been providing donations and moral support to the protesters. Instead of heeding their plea, the local government units of San Narciso town led by Mayor William Lim, and San Felipe town led by Mayor Leo John Farrales have set a venue for the AGN Trading to offer jobs for fisherfolks who will be displaced by the project. Fisherfolks and members of our group have walked out on both meetings set by the Mayors.

CENRO official Roger Encarnation deceived us, the Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement, when he set doubt for an instant that their commander-in-chief is a woman of courage that they look upon and respect.”

We need our president to be strong and brave to protect our beleaguered nation’s sovereignty and independence. We need someone who will not cower before imperialists nor give sweet deals or cushy government jobs to people they are indebted to for their win. We need someone who can use diplomacy and tact, rather than pro-

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

an arbitration between AGN Trading and our group in his office in Olongapo City on 7th January 2022. Upon reaching his Olongapo City office, we were told that the meeting was postponed because all CENRO officials were on field work. However, to our big dismay, we found out that at 8AM of that same day, CENRO Chief of Enforcement and Monitoring Edward Sarnedilla accompanied the camp of AGN Trading, Mayor Farrales, brgy.

Captain Marlita Santos and the San Felipe police incursed on the site of the planned but yet unauthorized Jetty Port/Causeway project and brought with them two backhoes, barbed wires and bamboo poles to fence the site of the planned jetty port. Fisherfolks and resort owners barricaded the group of Mr. Sarnedilla and the AGN Trading and prevented them from putting up the fences and dredging the shores.

Thankfully, no one was injured in that commotion.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter of the Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement.

Coupled with the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, the opposition of the community stems from AGN’s failure to present any of the requisite permits and licenses from the pertinent government agencies before implementing the same. It must be emphasized that the project is being pushed through with undue haste despite public objection and without the necessary approvals from the government. At the outset, it is respectfully submitted that the concern for the jetty port is that it is a component or accessory to the primary operations of a mining company and that it will be used to ship out the minerals (lahar and blacksand) extracted from the province.

Unquestionably, AGN Trading needs to show that it has, among other requirements, secured: (a) an Environmental fanity, to maintain our dignity among other nations. We need a leader who will show up to the battle, every single time.

We do not need someone who cannot even answer beauty pageant-type questions. Soho’s show wasn’t even a debate! A debate would have been more difficult as it involves a wide knowledge base of current events and issues.

I encourage media to stage debates

Compliance Certificate covering the development of the causeway/access road, the jetty port, the stockpile area, and other related facilities; (b) a DENR foreshore lease agreement to operate on public lands; (c) Permit to Construct a Port from the Philippine Ports Authority; (d) PPA Special Permit to Operate a Port Facility; (e) Dredging Clearance from the DPWH; (f) Approval from the Department of Tourism; (g) Authority/ Endorsement from the Philippine Reclamation Authority; and (h) pertinent clearances from the local government units . . .

Under the Environmental Impact Statement System, no person, partnership, or corporation shall undertake or operate any such declared environmentally critical project or area without first securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the President or his duly authorized representative.

However, in this case, no ECCs were properly secured for each component of the project, no EIA study/report was conducted, no public consultations took place, and no permits/licenses from the concerned government agencies were secured. Yet, the project implementation pushed through and continues on ...

This is impunity happening under your leadership. On that note, kindly sit down with us for a dialogue soonest to put an end to this travesty. We have faith in your office and in you as an alternate of the President of the Republic of the Philippines in ensuring pivotal environmental protection to save people’s lives.

The fisherfolks protecting River Alusiis with their bodies are very tired but very hopeful that there is a peaceful solution to this travesty . . . Please help us save Alusiis river, our fishing grounds in the West Philippine sea, our lives and our local economy.”

I personally know Secretary Cimatu to be a person committed to the protection of the environment. He will respond positively to these just demands of the people of Zambales.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs and not just interviews, so that we can discern who among the candidates have the intellect, knowledge, and compassion to help our country heal from the ills of the pandemic, extrajudicial killings, and political dynasties, to mention only a few of the challenges we are facing.

Which of the candidates has the courage to be this country’s leader? ### FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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World

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EU, US eyeing coordinated retort to Russia on Ukraine WASHINGTON—The United States has ordered the families of its diplomats to leave Ukraine, as rising fears of a Russian invasion pushed Western officials to meet Monday in a bid to coordinate their response and compile a battery of sanctions against Moscow.

It comes as EU foreign ministers will on Monday seek to align their response with the US when Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken joins a meeting of his EU counterparts by videolink.

He will brief them on his talks on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva, where the two sides agreed to keep working to ease tensions but failed to secure a major breakthrough to calm the escalating crisis.

The West accuses Moscow of threatening a further incursion into its proWestern neighbor by massing over 100,000 troops on its border. The Kremlin insists its forces are not there to invade.

ON THE LOOKOUT. An Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman watches through a spyglass in a dugout on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists near Gorlivka, Donetsk region on January 23. AFP

As tensions ramped up Washington authorized on Sunday the “voluntary” departure of non-essential embassy staff and urged its citizens in the Eastern European country to “consider departing now” ahead of any possible Russian military action.

The United States has led a diplomatic push to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking Ukraine and to marshall its allies to prepare swingeing economic punishment for Moscow if he does act.

Blinken has committed to provide a written response this week to Moscow after it laid down a series of security demands that would stop Ukraine joining NATO and roll back Washington’s influence in eastern Europe.

EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels will look to sound out the United States over its plans as Europe frets it has been left on the sidelines of discussions about its own security arrangements. AFP

39 China warjets enter Taiwan airspace Yemen missiles T downed over AIPEI—China sent 39 warplanes—mostly fighter jets—into Taiwan’s air defense zone on Sunday, the island’s government said, in the second-largest daily incursion on record.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which sees the self-ruled, democratic island as part of its territory to eventually be reclaimed, by force if necessary.

The final quarter of 2021 saw a massive spike of incursions from China into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), with the biggest single day coming on October 4, when 56 Chinese warplanes entered the zone.

The island’s defense ministry said

late Sunday it saw 39 warplanes from China enter Taiwan’s ADIZ—the second-largest number of incursions on record, which is shared with October 2 last year.

It added that it scrambled its own aircraft to broadcast warnings on Sunday and deployed air defense missile systems to track the jets that entered its zone.

The warplanes included 24 J-16 fighters—which experts say are among

China’s favorite jets for testing Taiwan’s air defenses -- 10 J-10 fighters and one nuclear-capable H-6 bomber.

It remains unclear why China launched such a large single-day mission.

But the incursions come on the heels of the United States and Japan carrying out naval exercises in the Philippine Sea, an area that includes waters just east of Taiwan.

Ten US Navy ships, including aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, participated in exercises with Japan from January 17-22 “for effective deterrence and response”, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force tweeted Monday.

Taiwan only started regularly publicizing its data on air incursions in Sep-

tember 2020.

October remains the busiest month on record, with 196 incursions, 149 of which were made over just four days as Beijing marked its annual National Day. The defense zone is not the same as Taiwan’s territorial airspace but includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China’s own ADIZ. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016, as she considers the island a sovereign nation and not part of “one China”.

Last year, Taiwan recorded 969 incursions by Chinese warplanes into its ADIZ, according to a database compiled

by AFP—more than double the roughly 380 carried out in 2020. AFP

UK Supreme Court to rule on Assange extradition case LONDON—WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will learn Monday whether he can appeal to Britain’s Supreme Court against a High Court ruling that he may be extradited to the United States.

The High Court on December 10 reversed an earlier judgement by a British magistrates’ court that it would be “oppressive” to extradite the 50-year-old Australian to the US justice system because of his mental health and the risk of suicide.

The court will now decide whether to permit Assange, who is facing 18 charges relating to the release of 500,000 secret US files, to appeal that decision to the UK Supreme Court on “points of law of general public importance”.

Washington wants Assange to face trial for WikiLeaks’ publication in 2010 of classified military documents relating to the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He could be jailed for up to 175 years in the United States, although the exact sentence is difficult to estimate.

At a two-day hearing in October, US lawyers argued that a lower court judge had not given sufficient weight to other expert testimony about Assange’s mental state.

They also pointed to diplomatic assurances provided since the January decision that Assange would not be held in punishing isolation at a federal supermax prison, and would receive appropriate care.

Approving the appeal, two judges at the High Court in London accepted the new assurances, noting they were not unusual in such cases and “solemn undertakings offered by one government to another.” AFP

INDIAN WELCOME. A teacher traditionally welcomes a student upon her arrival at a school in Mumbai on January 24, after schools were reopened that were closed as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease. AFP

NASA: Tonga eruption equivalent to hundreds of Hiroshimas NUKU’ALOFA—The Tonga volcanic eruption unleashed explosive forces that dwarfed the power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, NASA scientists have said, as survivors on Monday described how the devastating Pacific blast “messed up our brains”.

The NASA Earth Observatory said the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano spewed debris as high as 40 kilometres (25 miles) into the atmosphere during the January 15 eruption that triggered huge tsunami waves.

“We think the amount of energy released by the eruption was equivalent to somewhere between five to 30 megatons (five to 30 million tonnes) of TNT,” NASA scientist Jim Garvin said in a press release.

NASA said the eruption was hun-

dreds of times stronger than the US atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945, which was estimated to be about 15 kilotons (15,000 tonnes) of TNT. The agency said the eruption “obliterated” the volcanic island about 65 kilometres (41 miles) north of the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa.

It blanketed the island kingdom of about 100,000 in a layer of toxic ash, poisoning drinking water, destroying crops and completely wiping out at least two villages.

It also claimed at least three lives in Tonga and resulted in the drowning deaths of two beachgoers in Peru after freak waves hit the South American country.

Peruvian authorities have declared an

environmental disaster after the waves hit an oil tanker offloading near Lima, creating a huge slick along the coast.

In Tonga, the scale of destruction remains unclear after communications to remote islands were knocked out.

Nuku’alofa-based journalist Mary Lyn Fonua said locals were still coming to terms with the scale of the disaster.

“It’s so beyond what anyone here has ever experienced,” she told AFP. “The shockwave from the eruption just messed up our brains, we’re just starting to return to normal now.”

Fonua said the coating of fine grey grime covering everything was proving difficult to live with and raising concerns about long-term health issues. AFP

UAE capital

ABU DHABI—Two ballistic missiles fired by Yemeni rebels were intercepted and destroyed over the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on Monday, officials said, the latest attack in a sharp escalation in the seven-year long war.

The attack on the UAE, a week after the Iran-backed rebels launched a deadly assault on Abu Dhabi, came as two people were wounded by a missile fired into southern Saudi Arabia, where another projectile was also destroyed.

Nobody was hurt in the attack on the United Arab Emirates, where witnesses saw bright flashes arcing across the night sky in the early hours, before scattering debris over Abu Dhabi.

“The attack did not result in any casualties, while the remnants of the intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles fell in separate areas around the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” the UAE’s defense ministry said.

The UAE is a member of the Saudiled coalition backing Yemen’s government in its fight against the Huthis, in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

The Huthis appeared to claim the latest attacks when spokesperson Mohammed Abulsalam said he would reveal details of a “military operation” in UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“The Yemeni armed forces will unveil in the next few hours details of a military operation deep in UAE and Saudi Arabia,” Abulsalam tweeted.

The UAE defense ministry said it was “ready to deal with any threats” and was “taking all necessary measures to protect the state from all attacks”, the official WAM news agency said.

Deadly prison attack In the strikes on Saudi Arabia, two people were injured in Jazan and another missile was intercepted over Dhahram Al Janub.

Coalition forces destroyed a missile launchpad in northern Yemen, saying it had been used in the latest volley of attacks.

“This launchpad was used this morning in an operation to launch ballistic missiles,” the coalition was quoted as saying by official Saudi media. AFP

Taliban, Western officials meet in Oslo for talks on rights OSLO—Taliban and Western diplomats Manila meet in Oslo on Monday for talks on AfStandard TODAY humanitarian crisis and hughanistan’s man rights, especially those of women whose freedoms have been curbed by the hardline Islamists.

In their first AUCTION SALE visit to Europe ACME PAWNSHOPS INC. since returnAuction sale on February ing to power 05, 2022, 10:00 a.m.- MJ Holding Bldg., Almanza, in August, the Las Piñas; 12:00 noon Taliban will Alabang Town Center Stall 2074 U/L, 2:00 meet represenp.m. G/F Majalco Bldg., tatives of the Benavidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati and United States, L&R Bldg., 1018 Pasay France, Britain, Road, Makati and 4:00 p.m. Circle C G14, # Germany, Italy, 17 Congressional Ave., the European Bahay Toro D1, Quezon City. All items pawned Union, and September 01-30, 2021.

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The Taliban delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The closed-door discussions, facilitated by Norway, are being held at the Soria Moria Hotel, on a snowy hilltop outside Oslo.

The discussions are expected to focus on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, which has deteriorated drastically since last August when the fundamentalists stormed back to power 20 years after being toppled.

International aid came to a halt, worsening the plight of millions of people already suffering from hunger after several severe droughts.

Thomas West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, tweeted on Sunday: “As we seek to address humanitarian crisis together with allies, part-

ners, and relief orgs, we will continue clear-eyed diplomacy with the Taliban regarding our concerns and our abiding interest in a stable, rights-respecting and inclusive Afghanistan.”

No country has yet recognized the Taliban government, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed the talks would “not represent a legitimization or recognition of the Taliban”.

“But we must talk to the de facto authorities in the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster,” Huitfeldt said Friday.

Meanwhile, the Taliban hope the talks will help “transform the atmosphere of war... into a peaceful situation”, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on Saturday. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PRAYING FOR A BROTHER. Buddhist monks pray during the funeral ceremony of Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, 95, at the Tu Hieu pagoda in Hue on January 24. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; SPNEC, Figaro climb PSEi January 24, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 KPHB 2 SPNEC 3 DFNN

LAST PRICE CHANGE 7.44 1.24 1.96 0.23 2.45 0.11

% CHANGE 20.00% 13.29% 4.70%

4 5 6

LODE SGI PHES

0.68 1.14 0.51

0.03 0.05 0.02

4.62% 4.59% 4.08%

7

NI

1.03

0.04

4.04%

8 9 10

RCI UPM FCG

0.67 0.0073 0.77

0.02 0.0002 0.02

3.08% 2.82% 2.67%

S

TOCKS fell Monday on profit taking and in step with the rest of Asia after another painful sell-off on Wall Street last week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 40.88 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,252.64 on a value turnover of P6 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers 127 to 62, with 48 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, declined 1.8 percent to P3,260, while fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. dropped 1.3 percent to P30.60 Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp., which is building what is being touted as the biggest solar farm in Southeast Asia, however, surged 13.3 percent to P1.96,

while Figaro Coffee Group Inc. rose 2.7 percent to P0.77 in its market debut.

Meanwhile, most markets sank in Asia, with investors’ focus on the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting this week, where officials are expected to unveil their plans to battle soaring inflation.

The prospect of tighter policy has battered markets in recent weeks, with the Nasdaq in New York down about 15 percent from its recent peak—tech firms are considered more susceptible to higher rates.

The S&P 500 is down more than

eight percent from a record high touched at the start of the month, and observers said it could see even more losses in coming weeks.

The selling filtered through to Asia, with Mumbai 2.2 percent down as it extended losses into a fifth day, while Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta and Wellington were each down more than one percent.

There were also losses in Sydney, Singapore and Bangkok, but Tokyo, Shanghai and Taipei squeezed out gains.

Tech firms—which soared on the back of the pandemic—led the retreat in New York after weak subscriber figures from Netflix fueled concerns that the end of lockdowns and reopening of economies is seeing consumers changing their spending habits.

Fed sharpens inflation-fighting weapons as rate increases near

TOP LOSERS

1 ATNB 2 ABG 3 X

LAST PRICE CHANGE 0.6 -0.09 5.4 -0.55 0.485 -0.05

% CHANGE -13.04% -9.24% -8.49%

4 5 6 7

ATN TECHW HTI APL

0.55 0.88 1.42 0.074

-0.05 -0.05 -0.08 -0.004

-8.33% -5.38% -5.33% -5.13%

8

ARA

0.98

-0.05

-4.85%

9 10

GSMI APVI

111.8 18

-5.7 -0.9

-4.85% -4.76%

MOST ACTIVE

1 SPNEC 2 FCG

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 400,618,000 766,352,930 716,445,000 584,741,840

3 4

ICT MONDE

2,420,570 17,395,400

478,036,979 288,204,808

5

SMPH

8,266,300

283,899,385

6 7 8 9

CNVRG GLO ALI MBT

7,497,600 69,775 4,603,100 2,557,850

229,941,455 227,914,640 160,824,660 145,886,205

10

ACEN

15,214,900

144,678,329

PUB CRAWL PROTEST. Thousands of people take part in ‘the Tour Du Roer,’ an alternative pub crawl organized by 20 cafes and other catering establishments as a protest against the Dutch government’s COVID-19 measures, in Roermond on January 23, 2022. AFP

Evergrande shares rise after reports of state rescue plan BEIJING, China—Shares in debt-laden Chinese property giant Evergrande rallied Monday after a state firm official was appointed to its board, paving the way for a government rescue plan.

Evergrande, which has been teetering on the brink for months owing to its struggles in servicing a debt pile of more than $300 billion, ended up nearly four percent higher on Monday.

The rally came after a Sunday stock exchange filing showed the company has appointed Liang Senlin of China Cinda Asset Management—one of the country’s four biggest state asset managers— to its board.

The provincial government of Guangdong—where the firm is headquartered—is currently overseeing EverFrench startup La Vie co-founders, chief technology officer Vincent Poulichet (left) and CEO Nicolas Schweitzer pose while cooking their veggie recipe bacon sticks at their headquarters in Paris on January 7, 2022.

La Vie is a start up with patented plant based technology.

AFP

Natalie Portman, French firm bring home the artificial bacon

By Pascale Mollard-Chenebenoit PARIS, France—Vegan bacon sizzles on a pan in the office of a French startup whose quest to produce the “holy grail” of the growing plant-based meat industry gained the financial backing of Hollywood star Natalie Portman.

Paris-based company La Vie recently raised 25 million euros ($28.3 million) from investment funds and climate-conscious celebrities like Portman, an avowed vegan.

If not the first to bring plant-based bacon to the market, La Vie’s founders are banking their success on mastering imitation pork fat, setting it apart from other brands.

“We’re the only ones in the world today to have succeeded in developing a vegetable fat that cooks, fries, infuses and browns” like animal fat, enthused the company’s chief executive and cofounder, Nicolas Schweitzer.

After several minutes on the frying pan, the rashers of La Vie’s imitation smoked bacon were golden brown, crunchy and similar in taste to the real McCoy. Next up are lardons. The chunks of meat and fat also brown up nicely, but are a bit salty.

“We have a reduced salt version as well,” said Vincent Poulichet, 32, the company’s scientific expert and other cofounder.

The lardons received a C rating on France’s “Nutri-Score” food health rating scale—a middle score on the A to E ranking.

“Worse than broccoli, but better than pork lardons,” the company notes wryly on its website.

That comes as traders contemplate the end of the ultra-loose monetary policies put in place by central banks in early 2020 to cushion the impact of COVID-19 containment measures, with the Fed expected to start lifting interest rates from March.

Minutes from the Fed’s December gathering indicated officials were turning more hawkish as they grow increasingly concerned about inflation, which is sitting at a four-decade high.

Commentators have tipped the first increase in borrowing costs in March followed by another three hikes before the end of the year, while the central bank is also forecast to start running down its vast bond-holdings that have helped keep rates down. With AFP

Startups and established food manufacturers alike have been rolling out a variety of products that aim to replace beef, chicken and pork with plant-based ingredients.

But making faux bacon taste like the real thing is another challenge.

Ethan Brown, the head of industry leader Beyond Meat, told the Wall Street Journal last year that making bacon, steak and raw chicken were all the “holy grail.”

A growing number of consumers are seeking to reduce or eliminate meat from their diets over concerns including animal rights and the industry’s impact on the environment.

According to a 2021 report by market research firm Euromonitor International, more than one in four consumers globally say they are trying to limit their meat intake, in addition to the 10 percent of people who are vegetarian or vegan.

London-based market research firm Fairfield expects the market for plant-based meat to grow by nearly 19 percent annually between 2021 and 2026, to hit $13 billion.

5,000 trials La Vie’s founders, who created their company in 2019, believe conquering consumers on taste is the real key to success.

“After three years of research and 5,000 trials we succeeded in the somewhat crazy challenge of reproducing the taste of pork,” said Schweitzer, 34.

The fat in La Vie’s imitation bacon and lardons is made mostly from sunflower oil and specially-treated water.

The meat part contains soy protein, salt, natural colorants derived from radish skins and tomatoes, and natural flavors. AFP

grande’s debt restructuring process and appointing an official from a major state asset manager appears to have pleased investors.

State-owned firms are expected to take over the ailing property giant’s assets and the company set up a risk management committee last month, with senior officials from state entities to facilitate the process.

On Sunday, Evergrande said it has also appointed the head of its electric vehicle business Shawn Siu to the company’s board as it bets on this growing sector to help bail out its troubled real estate businesses.

The company has repeatedly said it will finish its projects and deliver them to buyers in a desperate bid to salvage its

debts, despite having missed a payment of more than $1.2 billion in December.

China’s property firms have struggled in the wake of Beijing’s drive to curb excessive debt in the real estate sector as well as address rampant consumer speculation.

Another struggling developer, Yuzhou Group, said it will default on two dollar bonds worth over $100 million due this week, in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday.

Yuzhou has $5.7-billion worth of dollar-denominated debt, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

In recent days, stressed property companies Agile Group and Shimao Group have also announced sales of stakes in companies to state-owned enterprises. AFP

WASHINGTON, United States—The Federal Reserve has its inflation-fighting weapons ready to fire, and when the US central bank’s policy committee convenes this coming week, the focus will not be on whether they will pull the trigger but rather how many times.

With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 adding to economic uncertainty and fueling a spike in consumer prices rose not seen for decades, the Fed’s decision Wednesday will be closely scrutinized for signs policymakers will take more aggressive steps to contain inflation.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which opens its two-day meeting on Tuesday, is widely expected to begin hiking interest rates in March, though a few economists note the possibility of early action.

“I think it’s kind of a holding operation rather than a blockbuster meeting, but the March one will be more fun,” Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, told AFP. Only months ago, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other top officials were arguing that the sharp rise in inflation would be “transitory,” but that stance grew increasingly shaky with each new data report showing prices rising and spreading to many goods, beyond cars and energy.

By the end of 2021, policymakers conceded they had miscalculated and pivoted, announcing they were ready to attack inflation head on.

They started by tapering the bond buying program implemented to stimulate the economy, and accelerated the pace of the wind down at their last meeting in December. AFP

A message to the graduating class of 2021 WHEN the pandemic struck in March 2020, I thought it was the end of the world. Until eventually, it dawned on me that I was in the business of helping businesses to aid in the workfrom-home (WFH) or remote working setup. So instead of being worried about the fate of my employees, my enterprise, and my source of living, I was pretty to decide and change the way we do business. We jumped immediately to the concerns and array of issues brought by this pandemic. Our team of experienced and expert managers met almost daily to solve the problems of other businesses, leading to the continuity of our business.

We were fortunate that our core competence as a business was recognized by the LGUs, one of which is improving the way the province of Laguna addresses its citizens’ issues.

I guess this story now addresses the one requirement I got from the vice-chair of the Department of Management and Organization to answer the question, “How should graduates manage both their careers and well-being as they enter the workforce despite the pandemic?”

One is being agile in embracing change. We focused on our core vision and mission and the reason for our being as an enterprise. We looked that by addressing the needs of our customers given the technology we have, their businesses would flourish.

Focusing on your customers will lead our business to thrive in return.

Opportunities come and do not focus on just how you will gain from it, but rather how well you, as a Lasallian leader, solve the business problems your market is facing.

It was not rocket science. It was simply true to our mission and my

commitment as a Lasallian leader.

That leads me to my second point, that next to being agile in embracing change, you manage your career and well-being by looking back at your life’s purpose. Our purpose as a business is to provide the needed technology to our partners. The WFH was a blessing in disguise for us and brought us more extensive and better partnerships with the big-name telcos we have at present. This will not be possible if we do not revisit why we started this business initially.

Lastly, how do we become authentic “humanistic” leaders as change agents not only for business growth but, more importantly, for social and ecological well-being?

Well, it all boils down to the universal message each of us can relate to, that is, love. Love and faith in humanity– as we continue to do good to others and create a society where everyone manifests genuine concern. A just and fair community, and everyone gets a share of the efforts they have produced. A society where the rich become more affluent and the poor become poorer. A society where everyone gets a decent living and every employee brings food to the table sustainably to live a wellbalanced lifestyle.

It sounds very lofty and mouthful, but it is the price we Lasallians have to embrace. We are given this great opportunity to earn this diploma, and from this excellent education, we have that tall order from our founder to pay it forward to the less fortunate.

We all have the power to change our society, enterprises and future employers. All it takes is to look into our intentions, anchored on the values we inculcated from this great

ERWIN CO

Green Light university for the past four years of our stay here. There’s no shortcut or magic formula. It has to be your lifestyle. Other than that, as we spend a lot of time on the Internet, be always hungry to learn new things, so whenever you think of something, go online and start researching.

In these challenging times, all the more, we need you, change agents, to change the way we do business that touches the very core of our society.

These workers toil the 8-5 shift, come to work, do their share to make a living. These are the people who need us the most, and that starts not when we enter the workplace, but the moment we end this program, we all have that power to change. So are you ready for that remarkable journey, my fellow Lasallian alumni?

Once again, a pleasant good morning to all and Animo Lasalle!

This article is an excerpt from the commencement speech of Mr. Erwin Co during the 56th Recognition Rites of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business last 8 January 2022, 10 am via Zoom.

Erwin Co is the president of Gur Lavi Corp. He is a 2001 alumnus of the BS Applied Corporate Management Program of the RVRCOB. His company received the Top VoIP solution award in the Asia Pacific Region from Enterprise Networking Magazine 2022 for helping SMEs during the pandemic through Gur Lavi’s cloud-based solutions.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

NEDA proposes priority measures to boost recovery, hike productivity

By Julito G. Rada THE government needs a “significant support” from the private sector to increase productivity and improve prospects for economic recovery, Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said during the 2022 Inaugural Meeting and Induction Ceremonies of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines.

Chua said the remaining months of his term would focus on pushing for top three priorities including recovery from the pandemic, increasing productivity and addressing the risks of climate change.

“The first is to continue our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think this requires a change in our mindset or paradigm, from a pandemic mindset to a more endemic mindset, where we can balance the important needs of the people to protect themselves from COVID and to protect themselves from all other diseases, problems of hunger, joblessness, and the need for income to support also other development objectives,” Chua said.

He said NEDA and the economic team proposed a 10-point policy change to address different areas such as metrics; vaccination; healthcare capacity; economy and mobility; schooling; domestic travel; international travel; digital transformation; pandemic flexibility bill; and medium-term preparation for pandemic resilience.

“The second issue that I want to bring up, which requires significant support from the private sector is enhancing or increasing productivity,” he said.

Chua said that the private sector plays a vital role in enhancing productivity in the country. He said productivity could be increased by strengthening human capital development, improving health and education outcomes, improving logistics, improving how things are done in the factories and in the office, the business process and how the country does governance.

Business Robinsons set to rebrand Ministop after full takeover

By Jenniffer B. Austria

R

OBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc. led by the Gokongwei family said Monday it plans to rebrand Ministop in the Philippines once it completes the acquisition of the stake of its Japanese partner in the convenience store chain.

Robinsons Retail said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it is buying out its Japanese partner to take full control of Ministop in the Philippines. Ministop Co., the Japanese company, earlier announced plans to pull out from several Asian markets, including the Philippines.

Robinsons Retail said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it is acquiring

Ministop Japan’s 40-percent stake in Robinsons Convenience Stores Inc., the exclusive franchisee of Ministop in the Philippines.

The deal, which is expected to be completed in February, will increase RRHI’s stake in RCSI to 100 percent from 60 percent. RRHI did not disclose the value to the transaction.

“I would like to thank Ministop Japan for our partnership over the years. Under the Ministop banner, we were able to bring to the public well-loved products and essential services,” said RRHI president and chief executive Robina Gokongwei-Pe. RRHI said Ministop Japan would continue to operate the stores using the Ministop brand within the transition period as agreed upon by both parties.

RRHI said, however, it was planning to rebrand and repurpose Ministop, as it takes into consideration the strong ready-to-eat offerings such as Uncle John’s Fried Chicken and Kariman.

“Our stores will continue to carry our

bestsellers while we continue to diversify our ready-to-eat menu and offer new products to the market. Customers can also rely on our convenient e-services and bills payment facilities,” said Suresh Ramalinggam, general manager of Ministop Philippines.

RRHI said that as of end September 2021, there were 458 Ministop stores across the country, of which 110 were franchised and 348 were company-owned.

RRHI’s convenience store business registered net revenues of P3.57 billion in the first nine months of 2021, up 4.8 percent from P3.41 billion recorded in the same period in 2020.

The convenience store business accounted for 4.7 percent of total RRHI revenues.

RRHI, the listed retail holding company of the Gokongwei family, also operates department stores, supermarkets, drugstores and other specialty stores.

The shares price of RRHI inched up by 0.52 percent Monday to close at P57.96.

GMA Network Inc. said Monday it kept its supremacy in terms of nationwide viewership and reach last year.

The company said based on Nielsen Philippines TV Audience Measurement’s Total Philippines data for 2021, it registered a net reach of 95.7 percent, with an estimated 83 million TV viewers nationwide.

GMA was the most watched channel in the country last year, with 46 percent people audience share.

Per major area, GMA’s net reach was

SMC-LED REFORESTATION. San Miguel Corp., along with the Dumagat communities, completes planting over 26,000 trees in Angat, Bulacan as part of its upland and mangrove forest rehabilitation program. The company has planted over 3.8 million trees since 2019. The initiative is among SMC’s major environmental sustainability projects aimed at helping address the impacts of climate change through the rehabilitation of degraded forests nationwide, carbon capture and reduction of soil erosion which contributes to severe flooding in lowland areas.

95.6 percent or 54.4 million viewers in Luzon, 96.4 percent (16.4 million viewers) in the Visayas and 94.9 percent (12 million viewers) in Mindanao.

Across day parts in these areas, the Kapuso Network recorded an average of 48.4 percent total day people audience share in Luzon, 41.6 percent in the Visayas and 41.3 percent in Mindanao.

GMA said it also maintained its dominance in key regional cities. Metro Cities TV Audience Measurement 2021 data cited that GMA reached 99.3 percent, or an estimated 352,000 viewers in Metro Dagupan; 95.2 percent (2.3

BCDA to transfer two Army structures from 33-ha. Bonifacio South Pointe lot

By Othel V. Campos STATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority said Monday it building a P283.4-million state-of-the-art facility for two units of the Philippine Army in another area at Fort Bonifacio as part of its relocation and replication program for the transfer of military structures from the Bonifacio South Pointe lot in Taguig City.

A five-story office building—equipped with a helipad, roof deck, lower ground parking and a bridge connecting to the Army headquarters—will house the Special and Technical Staff of the Special Services Center and Division Administrative Command Center.

BCDA said it included the helipad in the project as an upgrade to the SSC and DACC facilities, although it was not part of the original structures to be replicated. The new Special and Technical Staff Building for the SSC and DACC is scheduled for completion

by December 2022.

BCDA earlier announced plans to develop the 33.13-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe through a joint-venture agreement with SM Prime Holdings in line with its mandate under Republic Act 7227 to generate funds for the Department of National Defense/Armed Forces of the Philippines

Monday, January 24, 2022

-40.88 PTS. 7,252.64

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,963,397,272 75,557

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

6,046,891,566.69 62 127

UNCHANGED

48

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.4230

Japan

Yen

0.008799

0.4525

UK

Pound

1.355700

69.7142

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128422

6.6038

Switzerland

Franc

1.097333

56.4282

Canada

Dollar

0.794976

40.8801

Singapore

Dollar

0.743937

38.2555

Australia

Dollar

0.717000

36.8703

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652942

136.4222

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266603

13.7095

Brunei

Dollar

0.741180

38.1137

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030404

1.5635

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.0018

Euro

Euro

1.134400

58.3343

Korea

Won

0.000839

0.0431

China

Yuan

0.157739

8.1114

India

Rupee

0.013444

0.6913

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238949

12.2875

New Zealand

Dollar

0.670600

34.4843

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036100

1.8564 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Himlayang Pilipino under conservatorship THE Insurance Commission said Monday it placed Himlayang Pilipino Plans Inc. under conservatorship for allegedly failing to address its insolvency issues and fill up its trust fund deficiencies.

Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa earlier issued a cease-and-desist order against Himlayan for its “continuing inability or unwillingness to comply” with the instructions to cover up its insolvency amounting to P112.30 million and its trust fund deficiencies amounting to P184.88 million, resulting from the verification of its 2020 annual statement.

“Prior to the issuance of the CDO, the commission gave HPPI ample time to comply with these instructions. However, despite extensions granted by the commission, HPPI still failed to abide by its undertakings,” Funa said in a statement.

The IC said the company requested for various regulatory reliefs after it was apprised of the results of the verification of its 2020 annual statement, which included, requests for authority to venture into high yielding investment portfolios, suspension of the directive to fund deficiencies, and withdrawal of the excess of the trust funds for both education and pension plans. The agency denied the requests.

Julito G. Rada

PT&T, Singapore partner offer high-speed internet

GMA Network retained supremacy in nationwide viewership in 2021

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Modernization Program, “BCDA continues to support our troops by providing them with modern facilities and increased funding. In the process, like in the case of the replication and relocation of the SSC and DACC, we are also paving the way for business growth in Fort Bonifacio that would help spur economic recovery from the pandemic,” said BCDA officer-incharge president and chief executive Aristotle Batuhan.

Army chief Major Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said part of the command’s thrust is to uplift the morale and welfare of army troops while pursuing the modernization program.

“The Philippine Army continuously looks for better ways to serve their interests while they perform their duties. Fortunately, we have the DND and BCDA, who share these same goals. We thank the DND and BCDA for this project as it symbolizes the Command’s commitment to uplift the well-being of its human resource. Providing our men and women with better and modern facilities will surely translate to more efficient and productive soldiers and Civilian Human Resources of the Philippine Army,” he said.

The Philippine Army’s SSC, DACC and Army Support Command occupy some 11.5 hectares in the Bonifacio South Pointe property.

million viewers) in Metro Cebu; and 98 percent (2.1 million viewers) in Metro Davao.

The network’s ’s second free-to-air channel GTV is also performing well in terms of ratings as it claimed its spot as the second most-watched station, next to flagship GMA. It said that from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, GTV recorded 11.6 percent people audience share in the Philippines, which surpassed TV5, its closest competitor, at 10.4 percent GTV’s ratings success was also bolstered by the network’s non-stop efforts

to expand GTV’s reach and clarity of reception in areas outside of Mega Manila.

It recently commissioned the upgraded analog TV station in Zamboanga which covers Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur, the cities of Lamitan and Isabela and other municipalities in Basilan.

Since GTV’s launch in February 2021, the network already commissioned six analog TV station upgrades in different parts of the country—Tandang Sora in Manila, Mt. Sto. Tomas in Benguet, Mt. Banoy in Batangas, Naga in Camarines Sur, Legazpi in Albay and General Santos City in Mindanao.

PT&T Corp. said it teamed up with Kacific Broadband Satellites Ltd., a Singapore-based next-generation broadband satellite operator, to offer high-speed satellite internet nationwide.

The company said its latest very small aperture terminal, or VSAT, would provide fast and reliable internet to the unserved and underserved businesses and sectors that could not be reached by any wired infrastructure.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted existing inequalities and the widening of digital divide. As the new normal calls for people to follow social distancing and lockdown protocols, the need for reliable internet that is efficient and sustainable has never been timelier and more important, especially in the remote areas,” said PT&T senior vice president for sales Ella Mae Ortega.

“This further demonstrates our commitment to enable Filipinos everywhere to enrich their lives and connect communities,” she said.

PT&T’s broadband satellite internet services are powered by Kacific’s high-throughput Ka-band satellite Kacific1, which spans the Asia Pacific region. Darwin G. Amojelar

CREIT confident on P10.1-b IPO CITICORE Energy REIT Corp., the country’s first energy-focused real estate investment trust, is bullish about investor interest in its P10.1-billion initial public offering next month.

“We are finally closing on our main goal, which is the listing date, and completing all the prerequisites to ensure a smooth process and transactional flow after receiving the green light from regulators. We hope to receive strong and positive feedback from our investor roadshows and marketing initiatives, which we believe will be key to ensure CREIT’s successful IPO,” said CREIT president and chief executive Oliver Tan in a statement.

Members of the underwriting syndicate for the REIT IPO include Unicapital Inc., BDO Capital and Investment Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines, CLSA Limited and CIMB Investment Bank Bhd (international bookrunners). Alena Mae S. Flores

BEARS OF JOY.

SM Cares, SM Supermalls and Toy Kingdom conclude their annual Christmas charity project, the SM Bears of Joy campaign, that encourages mall shoppers to include a pair of specially designed bear plushies in their holiday shopping—one for them to keep and the other for donation to children in communities. The campaign is described as a huge success, with 26,115 pairs sold across 62 on-ground and five online platforms, benefitting 67 nongovernment organizations, local government units, orphanages and foundations in the country.

Row between NEA, electric coops over power restoration worsens A CONGRESSMAN accused the head of the National Electric Administration of allegedly causing divisive actions to undermine the integrity of a nationwide organization of electric cooperatives.

Party-list lawmaker Presley De Jesus alleged, in a privileged speech, claimed that NEA chief Emmanuel Juanez told members of a task force assisting in the restoration of power in typhoon-affected areas not to identify themselves as members of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, the association of 121 electric cooperatives nationwide.

De Jesus, who is also president of Philreca, said while privately-owned electric cooperatives operate under the governance of NEA, there is an “unwritten consensus” forged over the years that Philreca will spearhead the mobilization, assignment and deployment of Task Force Kapatid field workers to assist calamity-hit electric cooperatives.

The NEA, on its part, will help the designated TFK leaders to monitor the restoration efforts being implemented by the field teams.

De Jesus said the synergy proved to

have worked perfectly well in the past, and that Juaneza was aware of the arrangement.

“Mr. Speaker, this representation is very certain that Administrator Juaneza has known this before because he sat in the board of NEA and is part of a group that monitored the task force last year and the years before that,” De Jesus said.

“So, a few days after we have been mobilizing, deploying and reporting developments of the task force, imagine our disgust when Juaneza started questioning what we are doing,” De Jesus said.

Sports

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

Undefeated Mexican next for Magsayo?

Members of the Philippine Rowing Team, led by Olympian Cris Nievarez (second from left, standing), are shown prior to their campaign in the 2022 Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships.

Mark Magsayo: I’m ready to face anybody. I’m the champion now.

By Randy Caluag

W

HO is next in line for newly crowned World Boxing Council featherweight champion Mark Magsayo?

If the hierarchy of WBC contenders is to be followed, Magsayo could be facing a highly dangerous challenger in Mexican Rey Vargas, also an undefeated boxer, who had a lengthy reign as WBC super-bantamweight champion.

Vargas, who towers above his opponents as a 5’11” boxer, was actually the no. 1 contender to previous WBC champion Gary Russell, Jr., from whom Magsayo, the no. 2 challenger, snatched the title away from.

But the Filipino camp won the man-

datory right to fight Russell, with Magsayo fulfilling his destiny by claiming the WBC featherweight crown with a majority decision win at the Borgata Event Center on Sunday (PH time) at the Atlantic City in New Jersey.

Vargas is described as a “wellschooled fighter” as he was under Hallof-Fame trainer Nacho Beristain.

Vargas held the 122-pound division from 2017 to 2020 as he successfully defended his title against the likes of Ronny Rios, Oscar Negrete, and Azat Hovhannisyan. He last defended the

crown in July 2019 against Tomoki Kameda. He was named champion in recess due to a broken leg, leaving Luis Nery to face Aaron Alameda for the vacant belt.

He came back to the ring in November last year as a featherweight for the first time and, using his significant height and reach advantage, won decisively over compatriot Leonardo Baez.

Vargas, who now has a clean 35-win record, 22 by knockout, was hoping to challenge Russell for the title but Magsayo’s camp was able to acquire the mandatory rights.

Magsayo said he is open for a rematch with Russell, but it will depend on his promoters.

Russell vowed that he will bounce back from the loss that was deemed close despite the American nursing a

hurt shoulder, forcing him to use only his left hand for the most part of the fight.

He, however, did not specify if he will continue to fight in the division although he already signified his intention to move up to a higher weight division.

But Russell’s injury, however, may take time to heal, so the first defense for the Filipino could be against a different opponent.

“I’m ready to face anybody. I’m the champion now,” Magsayo said after the win that improved his record to 24-0 (18 KO).

In all probability, Vargas could be next for Magsayo.

It would be an interesting showdown between two undefeated boxers that will put the Mexico-Philippines boxing rivalry again in the spotlight.

Brooks eyes Pacio, but focus is still on Minowa JARRED “The Monkey God” Brooks has his undivided attention on his clash with Hiroba Minowa at ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE on Friday, January 28, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Ever since the #3-ranked contender came into ONE Championship, he has been feuding with Team Lakay by calling out ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and scoring a victory over Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang.

While he still targets a future showdown with Pacio, the American knows it would not be wise to underestimate the Japanese man, who’s one spot lower in the strawweight contender rankings.

“Everybody looks over Hiroba, man. Hiroba is a tough, tough, tough kid. I am not going to sit here and say that I’m just going to run past him and, ‘What’s up, Josh, we’re gonna get it,’ you know,” Brooks told ONEFC.com.

“I think that Hiroba is probably the best in the division besides [#1 contender] Bokang [Masunyane]. So yeah, I’m more focused on him right now than Joshua.

“But yeah, Josh, of course, I am coming for you.”

Brooks is not out of the woods against Minowa.

The Team STF standout comes in this match with a 13-2 record and a six-fight win streak. Eleven of his wins were early finishes, eight of which were via submission.

That’s why the outspoken Brooks has nothing but great things to say about his future opponent.

“Hiroba’s probably super excited for this fight.

He doesn’t seem like he’s the type to post on social media and stuff like that. It seems like he tries to harness a lot of energy and express it out at one time,” the Michigan-based competitor said.

“He throws pretty straight punches when he wants to throw. He’s not a bad boxer. He has a high chin, just a little bit. On the ground, he’s great. He has fast takedowns, super efficient, defensively sound.

He definitely has a lot of great qualities that I see in myself as a grappler as well.

“I see a lot of great qualities in a fighter in him. He doesn’t get enough recognition.”

While he holds his foe in high regard, Brooks doesn’t have second thoughts about the outcome.

The wrestler from Mash Fight Team isn’t promising anything fast or fancy but plans to teach his adversary some tricks of the trade.

“Every fighter wants to knock that guy out and get them out in the first round, in the first 30 seconds.

That’s cool. I mean, I would really, really enjoy doing that. But there’s 15 minutes, so you’ve got to play with what time can give you, or what your opponent can give you,” Brooks shared.

“That young kid won’t get tired, in my opinion.

I think that he’s just going to get pounded. He’s just going to get big brothered in there. That’s how I look at it.

“He’s a young kid. I got to give him some butt spankings—you know what I’m saying?”

Catch Brooks and Minowa fight at ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE on January 28 on One Sports+ beginning with the lead card at 6:30 p.m.

Philippine Standard Time (PHT). The main card will be available on ONE Sports and ONE Sports+ starting at 8:30 p.m. PHT. ONE Championship’s second offering for 2022 will also be available via the ONE Super App and ONE’s official YouTube channel.

Smart backs Omega Empress in MLBB Women’s Invitational PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. is supporting Omega Empress, the women’s team under its esports program, as they represent the Philippines in the first-ever Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational on January 27.

Mery Christine “Meraay” Vivero, Kaye Maerylle “Keishi” Alpuerto, Rica Fatima “Amore” Amores, Sheen “Shinoa” Perez, and Fatima Phoebe “Fibii” Taburnal make up the homegrown squad under the guidance of Coach Hans Bilonoac.

“Smart has always believed that esports has the power to bring out the best in our athletes, no matter the gender, social status, age, and background.

We are excited to see our Smart Omega Empress as they carry the Philippine flag in the international stage. We hope that they can inspire our youth to pursue their passion in esports,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Smart Omega Empress (formerly LVD Huntress) team captain Vivero shared that they are “happy and over-

The Omega Empress esports team

whelmed” with this milestone. “Masaya kami kasi nakita nila na kaya naming makipag-kompetensya sa ibang teams in the pro scene,” she said. “I’m very glad to see a lot of ladies confidently playing esports and showing off their skills, especially in international games.”

Smart Omega Empress, together with another Filipino squad Bren Victress, will battle it out with topnotch all-female crews from Southeast Asia

in the tournament to win the $15,000 prize pool.

“We are confident that we will provide a good fight, that we will dominate the game. This is challenging for us, so we need to practice double time because the tournament is fast approaching,” Vivero added.

Commitment to boost PH esports Smart has proven its longstanding commitment toward the fastest growing esports scene in the country with

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Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

its products, programs, and services that are geared to help in nurturing the passion and talent of all Filipino gamers. Smart has always supported women in the Esports and Gaming culture, particularly with its role in Liga Adarna—the Philippines’ biggest and only allfemale esports league.

In fact, Vivero and her teammates are veterans of Smart-backed Liga Adarna. They reigned as Season 4 champions in the Mobile Legends tournament of the league.

Filipino gamers and Smart customers can enjoy next-level speeds while gaming and streaming thanks to the country’s fastest and most reliable 5G mobile network as reported by Ookla. To date, Smart has already fired up around 6,400 5G base stations nationwide making it the country’s first, fastest, and widest 5G network.

Smart has also reaffirmed its dominance as the Philippines’ fastest mobile network for the fourth year in a row, based on analysis by Ookla of tests taken with Speedtest® covering the first half of 2021.

Stockton banned for refusing to wear mask LOS ANGELES—NBA legend John Stockton has been barred from attending basketball games at his former college for violating COVID-19 protocols by refusing to wear a mask.

Gonzaga University opted to take Stockton’s season tickets away after warning the 10-time NBA all-star he was violating the team’s COVID-19 measures.

“Gonzaga University continues to work hard to implement and enforce the health and safety protocols mandated by the State and by University policy, including reinforcing the indoor masking requirement. Attendees at basketball games are required to wear face masks at all times,” a school spokesman said.

The 59-year-old Stockton made his thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine public in a film that came out in the summer.

“Basically, it came down to, they were asking me to wear a mask to the games and being a public figure, someone a little bit more visible, I stuck out in the crowd a little bit,” Stockton told The Spokesman-Review newspaper.

“And therefore they received complaints and felt like from whatever the higher-ups—those weren’t discussed, but from whatever it was higher up— they were going to have to either ask me to wear a mask or they were going to suspend my tickets.”

Stockton starred at Gonzaga University from 1980 to 1984. He is still the school’s all-time leader in steals with 262.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 after 19 seasons with the Utah Jazz.

Stockton also helped the US men’s basketball team win two Olympic gold medals.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen has been suspended for one game for breaking the wrist of Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls in Friday night’s NBA game in Milwaukee.

The league’s disciplinary officials decided to suspend Allen after he was slapped with a flagrant two foul call by officials during the third quarter of the Bucks 94-90 win. Allen was ejected after the penalty call.

Caruso went up for a layup on a fast break with 5:45 remaining in the third,—and, while he was in mid-air —Allen grabbed his arms and spun him around, sending the Bulls guard crashing to the floor where he landed on his right wrist.

Caruso will miss six to eight weeks with the fracture. AFP

Tolentino to discuss PH sports’ hectic year A HECTIC year for Philippine sports will be tackled by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino when he serves as a special guest of the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

Tolentino, also a congressman representing the 8th district of Cavite, is expected to expound on the country’s campaign in the coming Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, World Games in Birmingham, USA, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The session starts at 10:30 a.m.

The weekly Forum is presented

by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, with Prime Edge as its social media and webcast partner.

PSA president Rey Virgilio Lachica, sports editor of Tempo, enjoins members to join the session being livestreamed through its Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and officially shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino

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Sports

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

Messi returns, Ramos scores as PSG cruises to 4-0 triumph

Kyrgios: Focus on Big 3 has cost tennis MELBOURNE—Nick Kyrgios has claimed tennis has embraced Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the expense of other personalities in the game, and that the sport is now paying for it.

The outspoken Australian star said over the last decade or so an over-emphasis on the “Big Three”, who have dominated the four Grand Slams, is coming back to bite the game.

Nadal is the only one of the Grand Slam kings playing in Melbourne this fortnight with Djokovic back home in Serbia after being deported over vaccination issues and Federer injured.

“I think they have really only marketed three players for the last decade and now it’s kind of caught up with them,” Kyrgios said after his latest doubles win with Thanasi Kokkinakis on Sunday.

Kyrgios was knocked out of the Australian Open by Daniil Medvedev in an explosive second round match but has reached the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles with Kokkinakis, with home fans clamouring to watch their matches.

“Tennis has really struggled to embrace different personalities, like when people go about it differently,” Kyrgios said.

“I think tennis needs to embrace that more. You look at the match against me and Medvedev, you couldn’t have two polar opposite kind of personalities going up against it.

“But the actual quality of tennis was still to a pretty good level and it was fun to watch. I think tennis just needs to push that I think, a lot.

Otherwise...”

Kokkinakis, sitting alongside him at their post-match conference, added “Dying.” AFP

Danielle Collins of the US shouts for joy on her way to victory against Belgium’s Elise Mertens during their women’s singles match on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Collins nails epic win to make quarterfinals M

ELBOURNE—Fired-up American Danielle Collins stayed on track for match her 2019 Melbourne Park heroics as she battled through an epic against Elise Mertens to make the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

The 27th seed outlasted 19th seeded Mertens 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a 2hr 51min marathon in sweltering heat on Rod Laver Arena.

It earned her the right to play either two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep or French veteran Alize Cornet for a place in the last four.

“It was really tough for me, I played a long match as well the other day so I had to make a lot of technical adjustments to be able to get myself moving around,” said Collins. “That was a big challenge.”

She is the third American woman to make the last eight, with Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula also through.

Collins was an Australian Open semifinalist three years ago, but she has failed to match that effort since.

However, she clinched her maiden WTA Tour titles in San Jose and Palermo last year to rejuvenate her career after a tough start to 2021 when she needed surgery to remove a cyst.

She had a dream start, holding comfortably then breaking Mertens.

But the Belgium soon warmed to the

task and pushed Collins hard on her next service game.

The American held on but Mertens worked her first break point and converted for 1-3 when Collins netted then threw her racquet to the ground in frustration.

Constantly berating herself, Collins began to wilt in the heat as Mertens stayed cool to win five games in a row and take an enthralling set.

But she composed herself at the changeover and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set as she found her groove again and put constant pressure on the Mertens serve.

The rallies were again long and Collins prevailed to take it to a decider, where momentum shifted as they exchanged breaks before Mertens ended with a whimper, double-faulting on match point. AFP

Bucs out as Rams advance; Chiefs down Bills LOS ANGELES—Matt Gay kicked a lastgasp field goal as the Los Angeles Rams sent Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers crashing out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

Gay drilled a 30-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Rams a thrilling 30-27 win after Brady and the Bucs had recovered from 27-3 down to tie the game at 2727 just moments earlier.

The win means the Rams will advance to an NFC Championship game at home to the San Francisco 49ers next week where a place in the Super Bowl will be at stake.

In Sunday’s other playoff action, Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to an epic 42-36 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills in a classic shoot-out at Arrowhead Stadium.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen looked to have given Buffalo victory after finding Gabriel Davis in the end zone to make it 36-33 with 13 seconds remaining.

But Mahomes marched the Chiefs back into field goal range to send it to overtime before hitting Travis Kelce on the first drive

to settle a remarkable encounter. The Chiefs advance to an AFC Championship game with the Cincinnati Bengals next week.

Tampa Bay’s loss meanwhile ended the 44-year-old Brady’s hopes of adding an eighth Super Bowl title to his record haul of seven Vince Lombardi Trophies.

“We let them back into the game with a bunch of mistakes on offense,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said.

“But we’re a tough team, this is what we’re all about,” added Stafford, who finished with 366 passing yards from 28 of 38 attempts.

‘Tough loss’: Brady Brady, who was sacked three times and hit on six other occasions by the Rams defense, threw for 329 yards with one touchdown.

“We were down a bunch and a lot of guys made a bunch of different plays to get us back into it. They just made one more than us,” Brady said afterwards.

The Rams very nearly were left facing up to the end of their season after an errorstrewn second-half display allowed Brady to mount a comeback for the ages.

Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers calls a play in the third quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. AFP

The Rams had dominated to take a 27-3 fore rushing for a score of his own to give lead midway through the third quarter. the Rams a 24-point lead.

Stafford threw for two touchdowns to But just when it looked as if the Rams Kendall Blanton and Cooper Kupp be- were home and dry, errors crept into the

PARIS—Lionel Messi returned, another marquee signing Sergio Ramos scored as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-0 victory over Reims on Sunday to restore their Ligue 1 lead to 11 points.

Earlier, Nice briefly cut the gap with a 2-0 win at Metz. But three of the teams just behind them lost.

Messi, returning from Covid, started on the bench while Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting lineup after a groin strain while Ramos made only his second league start of the season.

Marco Verratti put PSG ahead in the final minute of a sluggish first half, drilling home his first Ligue 1 goal since May 2017.

PSG upped the tempo after the break.

Ramos, who arrived from Real in the summer, scored his first goal for the club.

The central defender reacted quickest to a loose ball from a PSG corner. After his first shot was parried by Predrag Rajkovic, the Spaniard reacted fastest again to slam home the rebound.

“I am happy to have played 90 minutes and I am personally happy because it is my first goal with PSG, I hope there will be many more,” said Ramos.

“It’s been three weeks since I started playing normally with the group,” he said.

“We have the cup, we have the league, we have the Champions League, this is the best time to arrive in shape.”

That goal brought Ramos level with Messi on one league goal this season, it also acted as the cue for Messi to come on.

In the 67th minute, Messi set up Verratti for a shot that deflected off two defenders and into the top corner.

Danilo Pereira added a fourth as PSG matched their biggest league win of the season.

Earlier, Khephren Thuram’s goal set up a precious 2-0 away win for Nice as they saw off strugglers Metz to move back up to second place.

Khephren, the 20-year-old son of World Cup winner Lilian, opened the scoring in the 58th minute while a late spot-kick from Amine Gouiri completed the victory with a cheeky Panenka.

The three points lift Nice above their bitter south coast rivals Marseille, who are two points behind in third with a game in hand.

“We are still too far behind (PSG) to think about top spot. I’m more concerned by what’s coming up behind us,” said Nice coach Christophe Galtier. AFP

visitors’ game and enabled Tampa Bay to come roaring back.

A Kupp fumble led to a Leonard Fournette touchdown to make it 27-13.

Gay then missed a field goal that would have extended the Rams lead, and Brady soon afterwards picked out Mike Evans with a 55-yard touchdown reception to make it 27-20.

The sense of a Rams implosion deepened when running back Cam Akers then fumbled on the Los Angeles 23-yard line.

That gave Tampa Bay the ball back in prime territory, and seven plays later Fournette rumbled over from nine yards to set up Succop’s game-tying extra-point.

The momentum appeared to be all with Tampa Bay, but the Rams responded superbly, with Stafford making a 20-yard pass to Kupp before finding his favourite receiver again with a 44-yard completion.

That left Gay a chip to win the game from the Tampa Bay 12-yard line.

Mahomes seals OT thriller The drama in Tampa was matched by an epic duel in Kansas City between Mahomes and Buffalo counterpart Allen.

An incredible game saw both teams combine for 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation as the lead changed hands three times. AFP

Tatum snaps slump with 51-point night; Heat prevail

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Jayson Tatum busted out of a shooting slump by nailing nine three pointers en route to a season-high 51 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 11687 blowout win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Tatum drained nine-of-14 threes Sunday at Capital One Arena after missing his previous 20 this season from beyond the arc.

He made his first four three-point attempts and finished six-of-seven in the first half on Sunday.

This marked his fifth career 50-point game and he also had 10 rebounds and seven assists in front of the crowd of 16,300 in Washington.

“To Tatum’s credit, he had a night,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld. “Obviously, 51 points, it’s a real number. I think he was six-for-eight on pull-up threes, which are tough shots. No excuse. He’s been struggling, but he found his rhythm tonight.”

Teammate Jaylen Brown tallied four threes as the Celtics went 19-of-39 overall from three-point range and combined that with a stout defensive effort for the victory.

Marcus Smart (11 points) and Grant Williams (10 points) each made two baskets from beyond the arc. Smart also had six assists and four steals.

It was the Celtics’ best defensive performance since holding the New York Knicks to just 75 points on January 8.

The Wizards shot just eight-of-34 from three-point range as Spencer Dinwiddie missed all seven of his three attempts.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 19 points and seven assists. Deni Avdija scored 13 points and Thomas Bryant came off the bench to score 11 for the Wizards. Kyle Kuzma finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Elsewhere, Jimmy Butler finished with a triple-double of 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Miami Heat held on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 113-107.

Butler posted his 10th triple-double with Miami breaking the team record for triple doubles which was held by LeBron James, who led the Lakers with 33 points on Sunday.

Duncan Robinson scored 25 points, Caleb Martin tallied 15, Bam Adebayo scored 14 and Gabe Vincent chipped in 11 in the win.

“I think those are important experiences to

go through together,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

James recorded his 17th consecutive game with at least 26 points. Russell Westbrook scored 24 for the Lakers, former Heat guard Avery Bradley added 15 and Carmelo Anthony scored 11.

James says he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career although the Lakers have lost five of their last seven games.

In the zone “I’m in one of the best zones offensively I’ve been in in my career,” James said.

In San Antonio, Joel Embiid scored 38 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out six assists as the Philadelphia 76ers rolled over the San Antonio Spurs 115-109.

Embiid has scored at least 30 points in 12 straight road games.

Also, CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little each scored 19 points and the Portland Trail Blazers held on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 114-105.

Pascal Siakam scored 28 points for Toronto and Fred VanVleet added 19 points in the loss. AFP

Entertainment role took in an estimated $14.1 million in the United States and Canada after slipping briefly from the top rung last weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

Globally, its expected $1.69 billion total would push it past blockbusters Jurassic World ($1.67 billion) and The Lion King ($1.66 billion) into sixth place on the all-time list, according to Box Office Mojo, a division of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

The achievement is all the more notable given that it came during the coronavirus pandemic, when theatergoers have been skeptical about returning to auditoriums amid an Omicron-fueled surge in the number of cases.

The only films ahead of it in terms of worldwide box office takes are Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Titanic, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, and Avengers: Infinity War. Meanwhile, in this week’s North Ameri-

Is Derek Ramsay taking a showbiz break?

H E MAY be very visible around social media but it will take a little while for fans to see Derek Ramsay appear on the screen again.

In a recent radio guesting, the 45-year-old actor revealed that he and GMA-7 mutually agreed to temporarily freeze his contract until the time he is ready to venture into lockin tapings.

Derek joined the network in early 2019 but has just finished one drama series, The Better Woman, since then. According to Derek, it was him who requested that his contract be temporarily suspended.

“I’m still afraid to work outside. I want to protect my parents since they’re staying with me. So, I have no choice and so does GMA but to suspend my contract temporarily,” he stated.

He was supposed to appear as the male lead in the recently concluded Kapuso primetime drama To Have and To Hold opposite Carla Abellana and Max Collins. The part went to Rocco Nacino.

“It was offered to me but I backed out because I prioritized my family considering what’s happening these pandemic days. It’s good that GMA understood my stand and respected my decision. Anyway, when I feel that it’s already safe to work, I’ll go back to television,” he elaborated.

Ellen Adarna (left) and Derek Ramsay

Derek maintains a hiatus from showbiz for safety reasons.

Derek clarified that that he does not regret the decision to put his television career on hold. In fact, he believes it was a smart choice.

“If I’m ready to work again, the contract can simply be reactivated,”

he assured.

In the past, the actor was very vocal in saying that once he gets married, he would focus on the family he’ll raise, just like what he’s doing now after tying the knot with Ellen Adarna.

“Yes, I said that before. Once I got married, I will slow down on my showbiz career and prioritize my family.”

He still doesn’t know exactly yet when he’ll be ready to go back to doing soap operas but he’s eyeing to do an international movie that has been lined-up for him for quite some time already.

“I still can’t divulge the details about the project but I’m the lead here. There are two Hollywood stars who are members of the main cast. Tentatively, we are to shoot in June or July this year in Puerto Rico. Hope it won’t be pushed back because of COVID-19. So yes, that excites me!”

While in showbiz hiatus, Derek ventured into the construction business.

“I just built my construction company along with a close friend. Unknown to many, it’s my passion to build and design houses, the interior, and exterior. I decided to fulfill that dream of mine this year and I’m happy that finally, it’s here. That’s what will keep me busy this 2022,” he ended.

Alexa Ilacad lays down questions inside her heart and head in new single ‘Paano’

Alexa Ilacad

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

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‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ swings past ‘Jurassic World’ on global blockbusters list

Tom Holland as Spider-Man

Spider-Man: No Way Home powered its way into sixth place on the alltime global box office list, as it returned to the top spot in North American theaters at the weekend, industry data showed Sunday.

In its sixth week out, the Sony superhero yarn with Tom Holland in the title

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

SINGER and actress Alexa Ilacad will be taking her fans on a journey of heartbreak with her new pop ballad single, “Paano,” out on Spotify, Apple Music, and all digital streaming platforms.

For people familiar with Alexa’s music, her catchy pop tunes and high pitch vocals are some of her trademarks when it comes to her songs. She proves not only to be a versatile actress, but also a talented singer who can give life to every song she performs, especially the ones she wrote herself.

“Paano,” released on Jan. 21, was written by Alexa in one sitting during a rainy car ride.

Just like the downpour outside, Alexa poured out all her feelings and the questions running through her head after getting blindsided by the person she trusted the most.

“Where did it all go wrong?

Was any of it real? What did I do wrong?” These are just some of the questions Alexa asks herself but never got any answers to.

“I wrote ‘Paano’ because I had no other way and place to channel my emotions. I kept it with me for so long until I was ready to share my pain.” said Alexa.

It was then she reached out to her best friend and vocalist of Gracenote, Eunice Jorge, to help her turn this pain into the beautiful song that it is today.

Although “Paano” is a pop song, its lyrics and vocals express nothing but hurt and sadness – a pain that Alexa demands you to feel with her.

Who could have ever hurt her this much? We may never know.

One thing is for sure, not even Alexa Ilacad is exempted from heartbreak.

can box office, Paramount’s latest installment in the Scream horror franchise grossed $12.4 million for second place in the Fridaythrough-Sunday period.

The third spot went to Universal’s animated musical Sing 2, at $5.7 million. The film studio also claimed fourth place, with new Christian romance drama Redeeming Love, at $3.7 million.

And in fifth, for the second week, was spy action-comedy The King’s Man from 20th Century, at $1.8 million. AFP

Belle Mariano to showcase vocal flair in ‘Daylight’ concert RISING star Belle Mariano is ready to take center stage with her vibrant performances as she headlines her first-ever digital concert Daylight happening on Saturday, Jan. 29, via KTX. ph and TFC IPTV. Presented by ABS-CBN Events and Star Pop, the concert is set to train the spotlight on the teen star as she exhibits her talent in performing following the release of her highly-successful debut album last year.

Finally able to fulfill her dream of staging her own concert, Belle said, “Everyday I’m just grateful. Despite the anxiety because I’ll be performing, it’s more of excitement because I’m finally realizing my dream.”

Directed by Alco Guerrero under the music direction of Iean Iñigo, the virtual offering promises to be a light and intimate affair for Filipino audience worldwide.

“I want everyone to connect so kahit virtually lang, I want them to feel the ambiance that despite all these rains happening in our lives, we still have to see daylight,” the Star Magic artist and Rise Artists Studio talent said.

She also teased the fresh arrangements of the songs that she will perform during the concert. “We have different takes, it’s not the usual arrangements that we hear.

Babaliin namin so I’m really excited and sana magustuhan ng mga manonood.”

Apart from her

solo performances, viewers can look forward to Belle’s must-see collaborations with her guests—which include fellow ABS-CBN artists Trisha Denise, SAB, and Jayda, who all composed songs for her album.

Belle will also perform alongside Kyle Echarri, OPM band Ben&Ben, and her on-screen partner Donny Pangilinan, with whom she will reunite in the upcoming second season of He’s Into Her. Regular tickets for Daylight: The Concert priced at P195 that gives viewers access to the main concert link is still available, while the SVIP and VIP tickets priced at P795 and P495, respectively, have already sold out in December.

Daylight: The Concert streams at 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 29 (via KTX.ph and TFC I P T V, with a replay the next day (Jan. 30) at 11:00 a.m.

Belle Mariano

Marcos bares plans in DZRH’s ‘Job Application’ interview series; VP Robredo sched finally set AS THE nation evaluates candidates worthy of leading the nation beyond 2022, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has agreed to face the public in a personal job interview at 4:00 p.m. today. It will air live nationwide via the special segment Bakit Ikaw on DZRH. In this job interview – which will also be on livestream via Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and TikTok – Marcos will be asked by DZRH anchors, media reporters, and citizens airing personal concerns, to explain how government can move the nation forward.

“We designed an interview format that will communicate to the public both the policy preferences and the personal principles of each candidate,” said DZRH station manager Cesar Chavez. “Voters deserve to know what is in the mind, as well as in the heart of someone they would vote for as president.”

Bakit Ikaw is a detailed interview wherein applicants – presidentiables in this case – have the opportunity to bare their plans for dealing with longstanding domestic, regional, and international challenges facing the Philippines.

Among these challenges are: ex-

Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos

panding coverage of the public healthcare system; preparing for calamities and mitigating the effects of natural disasters; eradicating inefficiencies and corruption in government processes; maintaining peace and order; and maximizing the nation’s ability to leverage advances in science and technology to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

DZRH has invited all presidential candidates to participate in the Bakit Ikaw personal job interview. As of release Leody De Guzman (Jan. 26), Panfilo Lacson (Jan. 28), Manny Pacquiao (Jan. 29), and Vice President Leni Robredo (Feb. 2) have confirmed attendance.

“We chose a one-on-one interview format to provide every candidate ample time to articulate their plans and their view,” Chavez said. “Let’s give each candidate a fair and equal chance to make their case before the Filipino people.”

“DZRH believes that every Filipino should have equal access to information on TV, cable, radio, websites, or social media,” Chavez said. “This is why we make these interviews with presidentiables available on as many platforms as possible.”

Vice President Leni Robredo

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

Denim essentials

LIVING in the new normal made us narrow down our lifestyle to what seems to be essential. And in the world of fashion, denim is essential.

Explore your “jean-iology.”

Look for what works best for you.

And there are numerous ways — flare, wide leg, boyfriend, boot cut, distressed, and skinny. There are also baggy and oversized silhouettes from the ‘90s and frayed jeans that made their debut in 2000s.

Go Athleisure. Pair skinny jeans

Denim on denim. Blue culottes and a sleeveless top

with casual tees and a parka jacket, or denim shorts with a sweatshirt when exploring the outdoors, or taking a brisk walk to keep fit.

Love that layering. Denim pieces – chambray tops, jackets, jeans, skirts, and shorts – are so versatile they can be mixed with other fabrics, silhouettes, and textures. Layering gives your look an edge.

Celebrate the blues. Denim on denim is forever cool. Go tonal by mixing light and dark denim shades.

Flex your denim. Denim trucker

Layering this denim polo adds texture to casual shorts and tees

jackets are f lexible; you can just pair them with a simple monochromatic sweatshirt and pants ensemble looking all cozy and chill.

Give your wardrobe a denim transformation with these must-have pieces from Surplus. All these and more are available in Surplus stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide. For more fashion updates, visit @SurplusPH on Facebook and Twitter and @Suplus_ ph on Instagram.

Denim dress with a utilitarian vibe

Classic meets cool. Skinny jeans are worn with a washed chambray shirt

Skinny jeans worn with a casual tee and parka jacket

Light frayed jeans, a casual tee, and a bomber jacket for an edgy look

A professional MUA’s tips on how to enhance natural beauty with makeup

By Patricia Taculao

I

N ALL the decades of its existence, the makeup industry has enticed millions of users for its ability to create new products that play with different colors and textures. But nowadays, people don’t just simply apply makeup on their faces willy-nilly. Instead, they’re learning to accept that the ideal way to create head-turning looks is by using products that also benefit their natural skin.

Makeup artist to the stars Carissa Cielo Medved

Carissa Cielo Medved, a professional makeup artist to celebrities and beauty queens, shares the same idea when applying makeup. Her rule of thumb is good skin before good makeup.

“For me, the key ingredient for a beautiful glowing makeup look is making sure our skin is healthy,” she said.

“There is a large misconception that makeup is only meant to conceal imperfections, but that’s an overaged thought. I believe makeup is meant to enhance our natural beauty and not to cover up our skins.”

Medved advises makeup users to first invest in good skincare and priming products. However, this doesn’t mean that they should purchase what’s trending. The best course of action is to determine their particular skin type before looking for a product that fits their budget and, most importantly, meets their skin’s requirements.

She explained that there is no general template in skincare, so users need to put in the tion at the La Salle International School of effort to find the right product to achieve Fashion, Medved also joined pageant comthe best results. petitions and accompanied her mentor in her Other must-have products she suggests gigs as her main assistant. having are makeup bases, false eyelashes Every time they worked together, at a natural length, and lip balm. However, Medved’s curiosity about makeup encourshe believes the secret to achieving true aged her to practice the craft and fall in love beauty lies in accepting one’s flaws and with how transformative the art of makeup imperfections. is.

“There is beauty when you begin to focus By 2007, Medved began her career as a on loving yourself. When you start loving makeup artist by working on weddings. She yourself, you become more attractive to youreventually branched out to work in pageantself, and people become even more attracted ries for universities, leading her to the pagto you. You become this epicenter of radiance eant camp Aces & Queens. and love that inspires others to also begin lov“That’s how I met my good friend who is ing themselves more,” she said. a designer that introduced me to the world As a professional makeup artist, Medved of beauty pageants from local to national is responsible for the glamorous looks of celebrities like Janella Salvador, Venus Raj, Alex Gonza- and international levels. My career took off from there, and I became constantly booked for gigs, and the rest is history,” ga, Carla Abellana, Kris Bernal, and more.

She describes her signature look as soft glam that empha- she shared.

Now a constant presence in celebrity shoots, Medved’s best sizes the eye area. Medved’s creations are inspired by red carpet glam looks. Despite this Western influence, she honors achievement in her career is the chance to interact with senior MUAs who’ve been in the industry longer than her. And deher roots by highlighting Filipino skin tones.

Medved’s interest in makeup started when she was a teen- spite the time that she spent in the industry, Medved promises ager who was inspired and taught by her mentor, who was to be an innovative MUA who can create glamorous looks that also a makeup artist. While enhance a person’s natural studying fashion illustra- beauty.

‘‘

The secret to achieving true beauty lies in accepting one’s flaws and imperfections.

Medved also loves highlighting Filipino skin tones, as seen here on Lovi Poe.

Alex Gonzaga

Miss Universe 2010 Venus Raj

Pia Wurtzbach flaunting Medved’s signature look.

Designer Kat Padilla

A model wears POLLY in doritos

How a young entrepreneur breathes life into vegan shoewear brand amid the pandemic afford to bet on something DESPITE the erratic deBJORN in deep that’s not working or benefitlays in production due to blue, kroc, and ing us.” the rough effects of the caramel Today, the brand curpandemic, one innovative rently carries several series entrepreneur determinedly of shoes, such as The Pilot, pushed on with her dream: The Krokodille, The Ofélia, to produce vegan shoes to The Ingrid, and a selecempower the ever-evolving tion of heels, all in various Filipina. well-curated colors. From a Kat Padilla, 24, estabcreative and entrepreneurial lished Sebastian & Savanhousehold, Padilla’s biggest nah as “a conscious posh ELLINOR in white inspiration is her family, who label as passionate about provided unconditional supreshaping modern fashion port, no matter what. as it is about sustainability “Another thing that drives and local production.” me is my passion and love With her emerging brand, for my craft. I get so excited she wishes to provide stylwhen my designs come to ish footwear at an affordlife. It’s a fulfilling feeling able price point for the eveseeing your works out in the ryday woman’s wardrobe world, making women hap— all while utilizing vegan leather, plant-based cruelty-free sustain- py, and empowering them. This is really able materials that mimic genuine leather. something I look forward to doing to my However, it was not a smooth journey. heart’s content.”

She enjoys the development process the The Filipino-Chinese Slim’s Fashion and Arts School alumna and Fashion Design most.

“It takes so long to get it right — from and Merchandising major at De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde encountered vari- designing, sampling to manufacturing — and it’s so gratifying when we really nail ous production difficulties.

“Four to five skilled artisans worked on a project. The fulfilling feeling when you our collection. But with lockdowns and see your ideas come to life when people quarantines being implemented, we abid- buy and say good reviews about your proded by the rules for the safety of everyone, ucts and of course when known establishmaking us stop production or work with a ments feature your brand in magazines or articles. It’s just priceless,” she confessed. skeletal system,” she admitted.

On her rest days, Padilla usually cooks, She quickly adapted to the new world bakes, paints, plays piano, or design pieces and even redefined her workflow.

“The pandemic affected how I com- that she compiles for future projects and municated with my various suppliers. I collections. But looking forward to the funo longer meet them face to face. Now I ture, she eyes Sebastian & Savannah’s extalk to them via Zoom or chat with them pansion with upcoming partnerships and through the various messaging apps,” she products. revealed.

When asked to give advice to aspiring With this shift in almost everything designers, she said “Create something difwe do, she has likewise learned to switch ferent. You won’t stand out if you offer the gears at a snap of a finger. same as everyone else. You can’t just focus “Always observe what works for you on one aspect of the business; you need to and what’s not, to easily swerve to the be knowledgeable in all. Build connecright direction. Time and money are really tions with inspiring people and be an inimportant these days, that’s why we can’t spiration yourself.”